Your Dentist Epping will tell you that crackinga chip of tooth enamel off one of your teeth, is relatively standard. A traumatic blow to your face near your mouth is an obvious cause. That could come from a myriad of everyday scenarios about the house, in the city, in a shopping mall, at the beach, or on a sporting field. It could also come from biting down on something hard like an olive pit or un-popped popcorn! Old fillings or restorations can chip after years of constant heavy usage. A cavity within a tooth can weaken it, making it prone to cracking.
In other words, life can chip your teeth! But what should you do if it happens?
Sometimes, if there’s no pain involved, people might not feel they need to visit their dentist when they chip a tooth. Sometimes, too, whenthe chipped tooth isvisible, people don’t follow up with a dental visit, because, after all, they can see what’s happened. However, it’s still best to come to us as soon as you can. We will then examine the chipped tooth and all your remaining teeth –using x-rays if that’s appropriate – to make sure that no unseen damage occurred as well.
A chipped tooth can’t function properly, and if it happens at the front of your mouth, your smile will not be its best. The cracking process is also likely to create sharp edges on the part of the tooth remaining in your mouth, which will be uncomfortable or even cut your tongue. Chewing might cause pain, and you could develop bad breath. A chipped tooth also enables bacteria to enter your tooth more easily – and that’s something that should be avoided for the health of your teeth and yourself overall.
If you can’t visit your Dentist Epping immediately, it would be a good idea to rinse your mouth with saltwater and avoid hot or cold foods. If you are in pain, a painkiller is in order.
If the chip is small and involves tooth enamel only, it is more likely that your dentist will be able to save the tooth – and your smile – by restoring the tooth. That way, the tooth will again look and function at its best. Any sharp tooth edges will be dealt with in the process, so your tongue will be safe again.
Depending on the size of the chip, its location and the condition of the remainder of the tooth, there are several options. We might use a filling to repair it; add a veneer to the tooth (particular if it is a front tooth); repair it with a crown (particularly if a chewing surface is affected), or replace the tooth with a dental implant, if the damage is too extensive.
Whatever treatment we undertake, you can be sure that your Dentist Epping will do what is best for your tooth – and you!
