It's understandable to be concerned when you have a chipped tooth, but it's important to take action as soon as possible. Although it may appear mild and painless, a chipped tooth is weaker and has a high risk of further chipping or breaking. Regardless of the severity of the chip, the next step is to see your dentist. A small chipped tooth may seem unimportant, but it could get worse over time and there could be more damage that you can't detect. Your dentist can measure the severity of the chip and let you know if it requires treatment or not.
A cracked tooth can worsen if it becomes more damaged or infected. Afterwards, it is important to take precautionary measures to protect the tooth and schedule a visit to the dentist as soon as possible to receive the restorative treatment you need for your broken tooth. Some splinters are very small and don't even reach through the enamel part of the tooth. Others can be quite painful and penetrate deeper into the innervated dentin layer of the tooth. The shavings of the first variety, which affect only the enamel, can sometimes be left alone as long as they do not disturb the patient.
However, splinters that expose the deeper layers of the tooth need to be repaired to prevent tooth decay and pain. If these deep splinters are left alone, it won't be long until tooth decay appears and the patient may end up losing the entire tooth or having to undergo root canal treatment. It's better to treat the chip when it's just a chip, rather than letting the problem get worse. If you have a chipped or broken tooth, you should schedule a consultation with your dentist as soon as possible. Leaving a chip untreated, when it really needs to be refilled, can lead to more serious problems, such as tooth loss and tooth decay in the future.
Some patients avoid having chipped teeth repaired because they fear the procedure will be painful or complicated, or because they suffer from general dental anxiety. Breaking or chipping a tooth can be an alarming experience, and the appearance of your smile is usually altered instantly when this happens. Your dentist will sculpt this resin to fill the chip in the tooth and then cure it with a special UV light. People over the age of fifty are also at increased risk of chipped or broken teeth, as tooth enamel weakens with age. A splinter with rough edges, or one that is located on the edge of a tooth where it borders another tooth, should also be repaired, as food debris can accumulate in this area and contribute to tooth decay. Dental fillings are a common way to repair a broken tooth or decay, especially if it is a chipped molar or a posterior tooth that is not very visible.
However, if your chipped or cracked tooth has suffered damage that you can't see, you could experience increased tooth sensitivity. If you have a broken or chipped tooth, you should always see a dentist right away to repair a chipped tooth. Repairing a chipped tooth or a slightly chipped tooth for teeth with veneers means placing porcelain covers over a front tooth, resulting in a smooth natural appearance that is identical to, or even better than, the original teeth. Acidic foods and stomach acids break down enamel and leave the tooth surface exposed and it is more likely to chip or break. Larger chips and cracks can create discoloration and pain in your teeth, which can affect how well you chew, how much you smile, and how proudly you speak. When deciding if repairing a chipped tooth is correct or simply allowed to happen, there are a number of factors to consider. Sharp edges of a chipped tooth can cut through the cheek, tongue, or gums, causing painful wounds in the mouth that could make talking and eating uncomfortable. It's important to remember that leaving a chip untreated when it really needs to be refilled can lead to more serious problems such as tooth loss and decay in the future.
If you have experienced any kind of dental trauma such as breaking or chipping your teeth then it's essential that you seek professional help from your dentist right away.
