So you’re eating your grandmother’s famous and delicious peanut brittle when suddenly you hear an unsettling crack. You feel a hard substance on your tongue that’s definitely not peanut brittle, and discover it’s a piece of tooth.
Your teeth are very strong, but they’re not immune to chipping or breaking, especially if they’ve already experienced some decay. That’s why it’s so important to take good care of your teeth! Preventing tooth decay keeps them strong and reduces the chances you’ll chip a tooth. But still, it’s important to know what to do when you chip a tooth, and what the treatment options are.
What to Do When You Chip a Tooth
- If the break created a sharp edge on the remaining tooth, cover it up with a piece of sugarless chewing gum or wax paraffin. This will keep you from cutting your cheek or tongue.
- If you’re experiencing pain, you can take acetaminophen or ibuprophen. Use salt water to rinse your mouth.
- Do not eat any hard foods. Stick with soft foods and liquids until the tooth can be repaired.
- See your dentist as soon as possible! This is especially important if the damage is severe.
Treatment Options
Filling or Bonding
For small chips, a dental filling or bonding is usually enough to repair the tooth. Bonding is for front teeth and involves the use of a composite resin to match the color of the tooth. Both fillings and bondings can be done in one visit to the dentist.
Caps and Crowns
For a more serious chip or break, the dentist may recommend a dental cap or crown. This procedure involves filing away part of the rest of the tooth and then covering it with a crown or cap. This protects the remaining part of the tooth from further decay and makes the tooth look whole again. Crowns are made from metal, resin, porcelain, ceramic, or some combination or those materials. Getting a crown usually requires two visits to the dentist over the space of a few weeks.
Veneers
Veneers are commonly used when there’s a significant chip in a front tooth. The veneer is basically a shell made of porcelain or resin composite that’s colored to look like the tooth and is placed over the remaining tooth to make it look whole again. Veneers are usually a two-visit procedure.
Root Canals
The worst chips are those that expose the pulp of the tooth. This is where the nerves and blood vessels of the tooth are. You’ll know if the pulp is exposed because the tooth will be sensitive and you’ll experience a lot of pain in the tooth. If this is the case, it’s important to get dental attention immediately, because the pulp could become infected, requiring removal of the whole tooth.
In this case, the dentist will perform a root canal to remove any dead pulp, clean the root canal, and seal it to prevent bacteria from getting in. Then the dentist will cover the tooth with a crown.
Olney Dental can answer all of you questions about chipped teeth and other dental health topics. Call us at (301) 250-1057 or contact us online for an appointment. Also, visit Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and YouTube to connect with us