Has this—or something similar—ever happened to you?
You’re at one of your favorite restaurants waiting anxiously for the best burger of your life.
When it arrives, you take your first bite of that juicy goodness.
But then you feel something hard and definitely not chewy. You know something’s wrong with this picture.
You’re afraid to look to find out what it is, but when you do you discover it’s part of your tooth!
(Shriek! Yikes! All the exclamations for this scenario, right?!)
If this has happened to you (a comforting hug from us for that experience)—or you fear it might—the next question is: how does a dentist fix a chipped tooth?
How Does A Dentist Fix A Chipped Tooth?
Before we get into how a tooth is fixed, it’s crucial to understand that you should contact your dentist as soon as your tooth is impaired (chipped, cracked, broken, etc.).
Waiting to fix it could cause more pain, increased risk of infection, and even the loss of your tooth.
Now, when it comes to fixing a chipped tooth it all depends on the severity of the damage.
One office visit can fix a little chip, but if the tooth is broken or severely cracked, the repair could require more dental visits.
Cosmetic Contouring, Filling, or Dental Bonding
This is definitely the simplest procedure and in some ways like filling a cavity and can be done in one visit.
To smooth a jagged edge a dentist can polish the surface (cosmetic contouring).
Dental bonding can also be used to fill in areas, reshape, or even reattach where there are gaps.
Dental Crown, Cap, or Veneer
If there’s a large break a dental crown, cap, or veneer may be used for protection and appearance.
Each option has benefits like metal crowns being the strongest.
Any of these options may take more than one visit, with far-lasting results.
Root Canal
When a crack is deeper and reaches into the pulp (the center of the tooth that contains blood vessels and nerves), a root canal may be necessary.
This is more extensive because the tooth will need to be cleaned, dead pulp removed, and then sealed with a filling or crown.
At-Home Chipped Tooth Care
Whether you’re at home when a chipped tooth incident occurs, or you’re in public, here are a few tips to consider—
• Call your dentist first! They’ll have the best next-step directions for you.
• Try to stop the bleeding by applying pressure to the area with a clean compress.
• Rinse and clean your mouth with saltwater.
• For pain relief use an over-the-counter pain reliever and/or a cold compress to the mouth area.
• Keep chewing to a minimum, if possible.
• If the tooth edge is jagged try covering it with sugarless chewing gum or dental cement to avoid any damage to your mouth.
A chipped tooth can not only be embarrassing (especially if it happens in public), but it can be painful as well.
Thanks to modern dentistry your chipped tooth can be one phone call—and a dental visit or two—away from being whole again!
Need to fix a chipped or cracked tooth (before it becomes an emergency)? Give us a call today—we’d love to help you feel confident when you smile!