30 May 2023
Resource Center
Experiencing a chipped tooth can be incredibly stressful. You may wonder how it will affect both your ability to eat safely as well as the aesthetic impact on your smile. While it’s not uncommon for people to feel panicked when they sustain a chipped tooth, it’s possible to have it fixed with the help of a professional dental care team.
How Do Chipped Teeth Happen?
Everyone’s teeth are different, and some people’s teeth are more vulnerable to chipping and breakage than others. Some of the most common causes of chipped teeth include eating hard foods and traumatic injury to the mouth. Your chipped tooth can result in minimal pain or no pain at all, or it may be extremely painful. If you have a tooth that is already partially decayed, this can increase the risk of suffering a chipped tooth.
When your tooth is chipped and painful, over-the-counter pain medications like acetaminophen can help you handle your symptoms until you can see a dentist. If the chip is severe or the tooth is cracked or broken beyond the chip, you need to see a dentist as soon as possible. If the chip resulted in a sharp edge, you could use dental wax or sugarless gum to cover the sharp edge to prevent cuts to the inside of your mouth until you can have it treated.
Treatment for Chipped Teeth
The appropriate treatment for your chipped tooth depends on the location and severity of the chip. If you only lose exterior enamel on the chipped tooth and the interior pulp remains unexposed, your dentist will likely fix it with a filling. However, if you suffered a chip to one of your front teeth, your dentist would likely perform a bonding procedure and repair the chip with composite resin. The dentist shapes the resin to match the shape of your tooth, resulting in a seamless repair of your smile.
Severe tooth chips may require the placement of a crown, or tooth-shaped cap, on top of the affected tooth. This typically requires the dentist grinding down some of the chipped tooth and sterilizing the exposed interior before applying the crown. In the event the chipped tooth is severely damaged or decayed, it may be necessary to completely extract the tooth and have a full tooth replacement implanted in the gum.
Don’t Wait on a Chipped Tooth
If you sustained a chipped tooth, the sooner you receive treatment, the better the chances of your dentist being able to fix the problem quickly and completely. If your usual dentist is booked solid and you can’t seem to find an appointment slot to have your chipped tooth fixed, Emergency Dental Service can help connect you with an emergency dental treatment team in your area. You can call our 24/7 helpline at 1-888-350-1340 or contact us online to book your appointment as soon as possible.
