What Should I Do About My Chipped Tooth?
A chipped tooth is not necessarily considered an emergency unless you are experiencing symptoms. Most of the time, a chipped tooth can be attended to in a reasonable amount of time without risking any further damage, but left untreated, a chipped tooth can result in a broken or fractured tooth.
Chipping a tooth is a very common dental problem that can happen to anyone of any age, but there are a number of treatments available to restore a chipped tooth and ensure the integrity of the tooth. Your dentist will help determine which treatment option is best for your specific case.
What should I do about my chipped tooth?
The first thing to do when you chip a tooth is to call your dentist to set up an appointment for an evaluation as soon as possible. If you were not experiencing any pain or tenderness, you should be all right to see your dentist within a day or two, but if you are having symptoms, you may need to get in right away to make sure that no nerve damage has occurred. Your dentist will assess the tooth and determine what treatment option will be best for you. Treatment options for a chipped tooth include dental sealant, bonding, and even crowns and veneers.
Dental Sealants
A dental sealant is a plastic coating that is applied to the flat, biting surface of molars and premolars. It is applied as a liquid and then cured to form a hard, protective coating. Dental sealants are most often used for children to prevent decay, but they are a great way to protect a compromised molar or premolar from further damage.
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is the same thing that is often used to fill a cavity in a tooth. It is a composite material that can be molded to the tooth, and then once it is cured and hardened, it can be shaped to exactly replace the bit that chipped off a tooth. Dental bonding is a great option, but in comparison to porcelain, it is more susceptible to chipping as well as staining. Bonding is very quick and much less invasive than porcelain options.
Dental Crowns and Veneers
Porcelain crowns and veneers remain the best way to restore severely damaged teeth. As long as a tooth is not damaged beyond repair, at which point it would need to be extracted, crowns and veneers are very natural-looking and can be placed on any tooth. The same process is used for each type of restoration, but while crowns fit over the entire tooth surface, veneers cover just the front and wrap around the edges to the back of the tooth. Crowns are commonly used on the posterior teeth but may also be used on anterior teeth when necessary. Porcelain is very strong and durable and does not stain.
If you chip a tooth, it is important to see your dentist as soon as possible, even if you are not experiencing any negative symptoms. Most dental offices reserve emergency time in their schedule every day, so you should be able to get in within a day or two. Make sure to tell them if you are having any pain.