Chipped Tooth
What Is A Chipped Tooth?
A chipped tooth is a common dental issue that occurs when a small portion of the tooth enamel breaks off, leaving a rough or jagged edge. This can happen due to a variety of reasons, such as biting down on something hard, receiving a blow to the face, grinding or clenching your teeth, or even decay weakening the tooth.
A chipped tooth can range in severity, from a minor chip that is only noticeable to the person experiencing it, to a more significant break that exposes the sensitive inner layers and nerve space of the tooth. Regardless of the severity, it’s important to address a chipped tooth promptly to prevent further damage or complications. Before you contact a Toronto dentist to examine A Chipped Tooth, there are some things you should know as a patient:
- Why Do I Have A Chipped Tooth?
- Signs And Symptoms Of A Chipped Tooth
- Treatment Options For A Chipped Tooth
- How To Prevent A Chipped Tooth
- Managing A Chipped Tooth Until You Can See The Dentist
If you have questions about A Chipped Tooth or other dental problems, please contact us for more information.
Why Do I Have A Chipped Tooth?
There are several reasons why you may have a chipped tooth, including:
- Dental trauma: A sudden blow to the mouth or face, such as a fall or a sports injury, can cause a tooth to chip or fracture.
- Tooth decay: Tooth decay weakens the tooth structure, making it more susceptible to chips and fractures.
- Chewing on hard objects: Using your teeth to bite or chew on hard objects such as ice, hard candy, or pens can cause chips and fractures in your teeth.
- Teeth grinding: Habitual teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, can exert excessive force on the teeth, leading to chips and fractures. Your dentist may recommend a dental night guard for you.
- Age-related wear and tear: Over time, your teeth can become weaker and more prone to chips and fractures due to everyday wear and tear.
- Large dental fillings: Teeth with large dental fillings (especially ones where the filling makes up more than 50 percent of the visible surface of the tooth or posterior molars that sustain heavy biting forces) can make the tooth weak and susceptible to chips and fractures. A dentist may recommend putting a preventative dental crown to cover and reinforce the tooth from future damage.
- Root canal treatment: Teeth that have undergone root canal treatment no longer have the blood vessels that run through the tooth that provide it with nutrients and moisture. This makes the tooth more brittle and susceptible to chips and fractures. A dentist may recommend putting a dental crown on your root canal treated tooth to cover and reinforce it from future damage.
Understanding the potential causes of chips and fractures to your teeth can help you take steps to prevent future damage and preserve your dental health. If you have further questions about A Chipped Tooth, please contact us.
Signs And Symptoms Of A Chipped Tooth
The signs and symptoms of a chipped tooth can vary depending on the severity of the chip, but may include:
- Visible damage: A visible chip or break in the tooth, ranging from a small chip to a more significant fracture.
- Sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures: A chipped for fractured tooth may expose the inner dentin layers and possibly the nerve of the tooth to the outside environment, which can cause tooth sensitivity, especially when exposed to hot or cold temperatures.
- Sharp edges: A chipped tooth may have sharp or jagged edges that can irritate your tongue or cheek.
- Pain when biting: If the chip is large or affects a significant portion of the tooth, you may experience pain when biting down or chewing.
- Discoloration: A chipped tooth may appear darker or discolored compared to the rest of your teeth.
If you are experiencing any of these signs or symptoms, it is important to seek prompt dental treatment to prevent further damage to the tooth. If you have further questions about signs and symptoms of a Chipped Tooth, please contact us.
Treatment Options For A Chipped Tooth
The treatment options for a chipped tooth will depend on the severity of the chip and its location in the mouth. Some possible treatment options include:
- Dental bonding: If the chip is small, a dentist may use a tooth-colored composite resin filling to fill in the damaged area.
- Dental crown: If the chip is more significant or affects a large portion of the tooth, your dentist may recommend a dental crown to protect the tooth and restore its shape and function. A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that is placed over a tooth. Crowns are typically made of materials such as porcelain, ceramic, or metal, and are designed to last for many years with proper care. They are bonded to the tooth using a special dental cement.
- Dental veneers: For larger chips that affect the front teeth, dental veneers can be used to cover the damaged tooth and restore its appearance. A veneer is a thin, custom-made shell of tooth-colored porcelain material that is used in highly esthetic cases to cover the front surface of a broken tooth.
- Root canal treatment: If the chip extends to the pulp of the tooth, a root canal may be necessary to remove the damaged nerve tissue and replace it with a root canal filling. Your dentist will also recommend a dental crown to protect the tooth from further damage or infection and to restore the missing part of the tooth. Sometimes, if the crack is very deep and you still feel tooth pain in spite of having root canal treatment and a dental crown, the last resort will be to remove the tooth.
- Tooth extraction: In severe cases where the crack is too extensive to be repaired, the affected tooth may need to be extracted. Missing teeth can be replaced with dental implants, dental bridges or dentures.
If you have a chipped tooth, it is important to seek prompt dental treatment to prevent further damage. Your dentist can help you determine the best course of treatment based on the extent and severity of the chip or fracture. If you have further questions about how to treat a Chipped Tooth, please contact us.
How To Prevent A Chipped Tooth
Preventing a chipped tooth is often easier than treating one. Here are some tips to help you prevent a chipped tooth:
- Practice Good Oral Hygiene: Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss daily to remove food particles and plaque from your teeth. The Waterpik waterflosser is also a terrific adjunctive tool to keep the area around a tooth filling clean.
- Visit Your Dentist Regularly: Schedule regular dental checkups and teeth cleanings to catch any problems early on and address them promptly. If you have old fillings that are worn or damaged, talk to your dentist about replacing them before they become loose or fall out.
- Wear a mouthguard: If you play sports or engage in activities that increase your risk of dental trauma, wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth from impact.
- Avoid chewing on hard objects and foods: Refrain from using your teeth to bite or chew on hard objects, such as ice, hard candy, or pens. Additionally, hard and sticky foods can damage teeth and weaken the tooth’s structure.
- Seek prompt dental treatment: If you experience any signs or symptoms of a chipped tooth, seek prompt dental treatment to prevent further damage or infection.
By taking these steps to prevent a chipped tooth, you can help protect your dental health and avoid the need for costly and invasive dental treatments in the future. If you have further questions about how to prevent a Chipped Tooth, please contact us.
Managing A Chipped Tooth Until You Can See The Dentist
If you suspect you have a chipped tooth and cannot see your dentist immediately, there are some steps you can take to manage the symptoms and prevent further damage. Here are some tips to help you manage a chipped tooth until you can see the dentist:
- Use Over-the-Counter Pain Medication: Over-the-counter pain medication, such as Advil (ibuprofen) or Tylenol (acetaminophen), can help relieve tooth pain or sensitivity from a chipped tooth. Follow the instructions on the label and do not exceed the recommended dose. Unless you have a health condition that prevents you from taking either ibuprofen or acetaminophen, the absolute maximum dose that I recommend patients take for the worst dental pain is 600 mg ibuprofen combined with 1000 mg acetaminophen every 4 to 6 hours.
- Practice good oral hygiene: Keeping the area around the chipped tooth as clean as possible can help prevent further decay and alleviate some of the pain or sensitivity. Brush and floss gently around the tooth. Rinsing your mouth with warm salt water or mouthwash can help reduce infection, inflammation and alleviate toothache pain. You can buy any mouthwash available at your pharmacy or health foods store. Alternatively, you can mix a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water and swish the solution around your mouth for about 30 seconds before spitting it out.
- Avoid Hot And Cold Foods: Foods that are too hot or too cold can cause tooth sensitivity and pain. Choose room temperature foods so as not to irritate the sensitive chipped tooth.
- Avoid Hard And Sticky Foods: Chipped teeth are vulnerable to more damage, so it is prudent to avoid hard, crunchy and sticky foods that can weaken the tooth’s structure.
- Avoid Chewing On The Damaged Tooth: Favor using the other side of your mouth as not to further damage the chipped tooth.
- Chew on the opposite side of your mouth: When you eat or chew, try to use the opposite side of your mouth to avoid putting pressure on the affected tooth.
- Use dental wax or a temporary dental filling material: If you have a sharp or jagged edge from a broken tooth, apply dental or orthodontic wax to the area to protect your tongue and cheeks from cuts or bruises. Alternatively, you can purchase temporary dental filling material from the drugstore and use it to cover the chipped tooth.
It is important to remember that these tips are temporary measures and should not replace a visit to the dentist. Seeking prompt dental attention is crucial to prevent further damage or infection to a chipped tooth. If you have further questions about how to manage a Chipped Tooth, please contact us.
