What To Do When You Have Chipped Tooth?

Do you know what to do if you’d have a chipped tooth?

Chipped tooth emergencies are one of the most common mishaps that dentists deal with daily.

You should never take one for granted as leaving it as it can lead to very dangerous and painful dental conditions.

You should immediately ask for the help of your family dentist the very moment that you have a chipped tooth.

Do read on to know more about important matters when it comes to dealing with a chipped tooth. We will enumerate the many ways that you can care for it and enlist all the possible options for treatment.

Chipped Tooth 101

A tooth chips when it receives extreme pressure from external forces. A tooth won’t normally chip as it is protected by a layer of enamel. However, it can chip easily if the affected tooth is already with a cavity. A tooth that is decaying on the inside will also easily chip. An overwhelming amount of external force can also cause it even if a tooth is without a cavity.

The part of your teeth that is most likely to be chipped is the second lower molar because it is the one that you mainly use for chewing. Teeth with filling are also prone to chipping.

Do You Have a Chipped Tooth?

It is easy to know if you have a chipped tooth because one can instantly feel it. You will often be sensitive enough to feel if something in your mouth is broken or something feels off.

However, there are cases where it is not easily detected. People sometimes bite so hard that they end up chipping a tooth and swallowing the chipped part. This is very common to very minor kinds of chip incidents. It’s also hard to detect a chipped tooth if it is located in unseen parts of your mouth.

People with an undetected chipped tooth will experience the following symptoms:

1. The gum area around the chipped tooth will feel irritated.

2. One’s tongue will feel irritation when it feels uneven and rough edges.

3. Pain will be felt whenever one bites with a chipped tooth.

4. You will feel sharp pokes on your tongue when you roll it over the edge of a chipped tooth.

If you can’t determine if you have a chipped tooth, it’s best to have a dentist check it for you.

Taking Care of Your Chipped Tooth

You can experience blood loss, intense pain, and even nerve damage if you will leave your chipped tooth unattended. You should always immediately reach out to a dentist should you have a chipped tooth. Emergency dental care in Joondalup is always available should you need any.

In instances where you can’t instantly be attended to by a dentist like if your tooth chipped late at night, you should observe the following:

1. Use Warm Water

Rinse your mouth with warm water to ensure that you get to spit out blood if your chipped tooth caused bleeding. You would feel additional relief if you’d dissolve a little bit of salt in the warm water.

2. Have the Right Medicines

You can use pain relievers like Nurofen or Panadol to ease the pain. If the pain persists, please see a dentist or doctor immediately.

3. Use Wax

To avoid cuts from your chipped tooth, you can apply paraffin wax on the affected tooth

4. You Will Need a Gauze

Use gauze if you experience bleeding. It can be used to apply gentle pressure to ease the bleeding while absorbing blood.

5. You Have To Intentionally Eat Gently

You should go out of your way to eat in a gentle manner if you have a chipped tooth. Prioritize eating soft food to not cause more damage to your chipped tooth.

6. Dental Cement

You may use a dental cement if your dental appointment is not within the next 24 hours. You can use Dentafix. But be extra careful in the application and make sure that you strictly follow the instruction of your dentist.

Treatment Options for Chipped Tooth

Treatment will vary depending on the gravity of damage. The following will be your options:

Option 1: Fillings

You can be given a simple filling if the chipping is minor. The filling will match the exact size of the chipped part.

Option 2: Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is done when the chipped tooth is visible. This is usually done to patients that chipped any of their frontal teeth. This proceeding will not need for the tooth to be numbed down. In this process, a composite resin that matches your tooth color and size will be attached to replace the chipped tooth. UV light will be used to speed up the bond and adhesion of the materials.

Option 3: Crowns

You may be given a dental cap or a dental crown if the affected tooth is largely broken or is already decaying. For dental crowns, patients can choose from the following materials: metal, porcelain, ceramic, or Zirconia / Emax. Crowns fit perfectly because they are computer-generated. Should a whole tooth be broken off with only the root remaining intact, you may be given a root canal therapy. Crown installations are not done in just a session. Patients will need two sessions: one for the fitting, and another for the placement proper. A gap of two to three weeks is often needed. If you’re in a rush, look for a dental office that can make crowns on the same day. Immediately ask for your dentist’s crown policy and options prior to booking an appointment.

Option 4: Dental Veneers

Dental veneers can also be used to replace a chipped tooth. In this process, a dentist will need to remove some of your tooth enamel to make space for the veneer. The process usually takes weeks to be completed as prior fitting is necessary.

Option 5: Root Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy is a dentist’s last resort. This is only necessary when a chipped tooth is so grave that a tooth’s pulp is already exposed. Immediate attention is necessary when a chipped tooth exposes the pulp as one can be open to bacteria that can easily be in contact with vital organs through the sensitive and vulnerable veins.

Bottomline

A chipped tooth should never be taken lightly. Don’t forget to apply the following tips should you or any of your loved ones encounter one. To avoid unnecessary damage, always remember that you should immediately contact your dentist the soonest time possible should you have a chipped tooth.