What to Do If You Chip a Tooth

Having a dental emergency can be a very stressful experience. They never seem to happen at a convenient time, and it can be difficult to know what to do when you are dealing with pain. There are many different ways that you can chip your tooth. Whether you munched down on something that was a little bit too hard or endured a blow to the face during practice, a dental injury is possible. The good news is that you won’t be left with a chipped tooth for the rest of your life. Continue reading to learn more from a dentist in far North Dallas about how to deal with a chipped tooth.

What Are the Symptoms of a Chipped Tooth?

It is usually easy to tell if you have chipped a tooth. Here are some of the most common symptoms:

• Rough, uneven, or jagged edge on the chewing surface of your tooth.
• Tongue irritation from rubbing it against the tooth’s surface.
• Pain when biting down or putting pressure on your tooth.
• Sensitivity to hot and/or cold foods and drinks.

What Do You Do If You Chip a Tooth?

You should take action right away if you chip a tooth. The sooner that you are able to get treatment from your dentist, the better. Here are the steps that you need to take if it happens to you:

• Find the missing piece of your tooth if you can. Keep it in either saliva or milk as you bring it to the dentist.
• Protect the soft tissues in your mouth from rough or jagged edges with dental wax, a teabag, or another material.
• If you are experiencing pain, take an over-the-counter pain reliever.
• Only consume soft foods.
• Call your dentist in order to make an urgent appointment.

How Can a Chipped Tooth Be Treated?

There are a few different ways that your dentist may decide to fix your tooth depending on the severity:

• Recontouring: If the chip is very small, your dentist may just smooth out the enamel.
• Dental bonding: If you have a noticeable chip but it isn’t causing any damage to the health of your smile, dental bonding is a great option. It’s affordable and will restore the broken part of your tooth.
• Dental crown: For teeth that are more severely fractured, dental crowns are a viable solution. They cover up the remaining structure of the tooth to protect it from further damage.
• Porcelain veneer: Veneers are great for cosmetic issues, like chips. A customized veneer can be made to cover up imperfections on the front surface of the tooth.
• Root canal: If your chip or break is deep, you may need a root canal in order to prevent an infection. During this procedure, your dentist will remove the pulp of the tooth, clean out the center, and seal it with a filling. It may then be covered with a crown for extra protection.

Chipping a tooth can be stressful, but by getting help right away, you will be showing off your smile with pride again in no time!

About the Practice

At Bear Creek Family Dentistry, the team consists of both general and specialists in pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, oral surgery, and prosthodontics, so patients can get everything they need under one roof. The staff are devoted to completing numerous hours of continuing education every year in order to keep up with advances in technology and techniques. If you have a chipped tooth, the team would be happy to help! For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit their website or call (972) 490-1600.