Have you ever touched the edges of your teeth and found that one or a few are very rough? This can be due to chippings in your teeth. Your tooth is probably the part of your body that cannot repair itself. Ameloblasts are responsible for producing the protective layer over dentin, called enamel. However, it’s impossible to find in adult teeth as they wear off during enamel maturation and tooth eruption period.
Slightly Chipped Tooth
In our routine lives, we do things that can chip a tooth. Biting on hard foods, opening up a chips bag using our teeth as scissors, or chewing on a piece of jewelry we wear. When you slightly chip your tooth, there usually is no pain, but note that your enamel is not returning.
The saliva in your mouth can mineralize it but the chip will stay affecting your smile and making your teeth vulnerable to bacteria. A slightly chipped tooth is not alarming, but you need to see your dentist to prevent further bacterial growth complications.
What to Do for a Chipped Tooth (At Home)
Although the enamel on your teeth is remarkably strong, it still has limitations. Chewing on hard substances or accidental falls or blows to the face can cause even the healthiest tooth to chip or crack. It is always recommended to see your dentist for any dental problem. However, the following are a few self-care measures you can take at home till you can visit the dental office.
- If you are in pain, take an over-the-counter painkiller and rinse your mouth with a saltwater mixture multiple times daily. Doing so will prevent infections and soothe your gums.
- A tooth sometimes can chip unevenly, leaving a sharp edge behind. Conceal it with sugarless gum to stop it from injuring your tongue or the sides of your cheek.
- Prevent chewing with the broken tooth if you must eat, then prefer soft foods that do not require chewing.
What Do Dentists Do for a Chipped Tooth
In-office treatment for a chipped tooth depends on the severity of the chip or breakage. A minor chip can be fixed in a single visit, while a badly damaged or decayed tooth requires multiple visits. Following are some Procedures dentists can perform to fix your tooth.
- Dental Filling or Bonding
If you lose a tiny piece of your enamel, your dentist will use a filling to fix it. But if your front tooth disrupts your appearance, a dental bonding will come in handy, where your tooth will be covered with a tooth-colored resin. - Dental Cap or Crown
If a big chunk of tooth broke off or is severely decayed. The dentist will file down the remaining tooth and fix a dental crown or cap over it to save the tooth and improve its appearance. - Dental Veneers
A dental veneer is a shell-shaped resin composite material that conceals the front part of the tooth. Just like we wear fake nails over our natural nails. This makes your teeth look complete and healthy again. - Root Canal Therapy
If the chip or break has revealed the pulp, the part of the tooth where nerves and blood vessels are. The bacteria can freely enter the pulp and roam inside. Which can cause infection and nerve damage. To avoid tooth extraction, the dentist will perform root canal therapy to remove infected pulp and then cover the weakened tooth with a crown.
Bottom Line
Don’t ignore a chipped tooth; you never know what other dental problems it brings you later. Contact our dental specialists at Village Park for matchless expertise. Dial (281) 376-4444 to book a slot.