Even though enamel is the hardest substance in the body, this doesn’t mean that your teeth aren’t susceptible to the odd chip and crack. Have you noticed a crack forming on your teeth? You must visit the dentist as soon as possible.
It can be painful to nurse a chipped tooth. No matter if the damage is minor or major, the condition of your teeth can become severe. A chipped tooth cannot be fixed without a visit to the dentist, but the best thing is to address any sensitivity and protect the tooth before your appointment.
What Could Have Caused A Broken Or Chipped Tooth?
The difficulty of a broken or chipped tooth is that it’s difficult to pinpoint what the cause could be. The causes can vary.
- Chipped tooth after eating on something hard
- Trauma following a collision or an accident
- Untreated cavities cause a tooth to become brittle
- Old fillings that have dislodged or become brittle
- Biting down on hard surfaces or ice
What Are The Risks Of A Broken Or Chipped Tooth?
The risk of these causes is a minor or severely broken or chipped tooth. Your teeth shouldn’t be used as an opening tool and should be protected at all costs. Teeth that have previously been broken or chipped are likely to break easily in the future, even after its repair.
If you’ve open cavities, this can weaken your tooth enamel. This is especially dangerous if you continue to eat sugars and acids because the tooth surface is already exposed. You can also contact us for a free orthodontics consultation today.
What Do I Do If I have A Chipped Tooth?
Should you break or chip a tooth, the remainder of the tooth needs to be cared for. Rinse your mouth first with warm water to clean the affected area. If you suffer any bleeding, apply a cold compress to avoid swelling.
The chipped or broken part of the tooth needs to be wrapped or placed in a moist environment and brought with you at your appointment.
What Do I Do If My Tooth Is Broken Out Of Its Socket?
If you’ve lost a tooth or it’s broken out of its socket completely, it’s recommended that you place the tooth back into the socket if possible. Before doing this, rinse your mouth and the tooth with water. Should you can’t place it back to your socket, put it in milk or water and take it to the dentist.
What Are The Treatments For A Broken Or Chipped Tooth?
Treatments are available at the dentist, but the choice of treatment ultimately depends on how severe the damage is to your teeth. Let’s take a look at the treatments available:
- Dental Bonding – If a small piece of your tooth enamel is chipped, the dentist can repair the tooth with a bonded tooth-coloured composite resin. The dentist etches the tooth surface with a liquid to roughen the tooth so the bonding material can stick against it. The adhesive material is applied after the resin and finally using ultraviolet light, so the material hardens to the tooth.
- Dental Crown – If a large piece of your tooth has broken off, or the tooth is under severe decay, then the dentist can protect it with a dental crown, a tooth-shaped cap that helps to improve your overall appearance.
- Dental Veneers – If the niggling imperfections are damage your smiling confidence, you may consider a transformation of your smile with fitted dental veneers. A wafer-thin shell is placed in front of the tooth to hide a chip or broken tooth.
- Root Canal – If a broken tooth has exposed the tooth pulp, the nerves in the centre of the tooth can become full of bacteria. This can cause infection and may require the tooth to be extracted. The dentist may consider root canal treatment if the tooth remains are still healthy, which would involve removing the dead pulp and sealing the root canal.
If you have a broken or chipped tooth and need immediate assistance, consult your local dentist in Quakers Hill immediately for an emergency appointment.