CHIPPED TEETH are a very common dental problem. It happens when a small piece of your tooth brakes off. Although teeth were made to last, there not indestructible. In fact, the enamel covering our teeth is the hardest, most mineralized tissue in our body. Yet its strength has limits. So we should protect them from any kind of injury. With the chip of a tooth, we loose valuable tooth structure and lay the foundation for more chips and cracks. Furthermore, you may need a root canal if the chip is close to the pulp containing the nerve. Especially if it doesn’t heal from the trauma.
Falling and hitting your mouth is amongst the most common reasons for a chipped tooth. As well as biting on a hard object or food, or suffering trauma to the face from a sports injury or accident. Cavities can also cause teeth to weaken and chip.
A chipped tooth is generally painless and can go unattended. Unless the chip is large enough to expose the nerves in the inner layer of the tooth. We know that exposed nerves cause severe tooth sensitivity and pain. This is especially painful when chewing. Or when exposed to high or low food and beverage temperatures.
A chip on one of the pointed chewing surfaces of the back teeth is a broken cusp. This type of chipped tooth is rarely painful, but you should undergo examination by a dentist. He or she may determine you might need a crown or a dental on lay. These options work to restore the shape of the tooth and prevent further damage or decay.
Care
If you get chipped tooth, make an appointment to see your dentist as soon as possible. Otherwise, your tooth could suffer further damage or become infected. This can even cause you to end up losing the tooth.
Meanwhile, follow these steps:
· Rinse your mouth with warm salt water
· If there is any bleeding in your mouth, use a piece of gauze to apply pressure to the area.
Treatment
Repair of a chipped tooth depends on the size and severity of the injury;
For very small chips, your dentists might only need to smooth and polish the chipped tooth. No further treatment may be required in these cases.
For minor damage to the tooth enamel, your dentist may try repairing your tooth with a filling. Crowns or caps are also options in repairing chipped teeth. This helps restore its normal appearance and function. As well as protects the inner layers of the teeth from irritation and infection.
If it is large enough to expose the tooth nerve, you will likely need a root canal. This will remove the damaged nerve and a crown or cap will replace the chipped tooth.
