As small as they are, your teeth are tough. They enable you to bite and chew delicious foods through many pounds of pressure. However, your teeth are part of your body, which means they are susceptible to damage like a chip. This lost piece of enamel can be devastating to your appearance and even your oral function, so what should you do in an emergency dentistry situation like when you chip a tooth? How does it happen, and what can your dentist do to help you regain your smile? Continue reading to learn more.
Why Do Teeth Chip Sometimes?
Although your teeth consist of the strongest material in the human body, even enamel isn’t completely indestructible. In fact, this thin protective layer can crack and break under the right kind of pressure. Sometimes, biting or chewing on something excessively hard can be enough to force a chip off. Other times, a dental injury, such as a hit to the face, can make a piece of tooth go flying.
If you can, try to prevent teeth from chipping by wearing a mouthguard when you play sports, even ones that aren’t supposed to involve contact with the opponent like basketball or soccer. However, know that chipped teeth can occur even in situations you wouldn’t expect them to.
What Should I Do If a Tooth Chips?
Let’s say you’ve just had a piece of tooth chip off, your next actions are imperative to bring back your tooth’s strength and function. After calling your dentist’s office for an urgent appointment, attempt to find the piece(s) of the tooth. If necessary, gently rinse it with clean water and head to their clinic. Until you get there, you may need to protect your lips, gums, or cheeks from a pointy or sharp edge on the tooth. Dental wax can cover the dangerous surface and prevent bleeding.
How Is a Chipped Tooth Treated?
Treatment depends on the extent of the damage on the tooth. For a simple or minor chip, your dentist may reattach the piece of tooth that came off or use composite resin, which will be colored to match the rest of your tooth. Another option is a veneer, which covers the entire front surface of the tooth to make it look completely natural and uniform. If the chip is large enough, a dental crown may become necessary.
Hopefully, you never have to experience a chipped tooth, but as you get older, your teeth may start to get weaker and less able to withstand force. If you do face this problem, don’t hesitate to contact your dentist so that you can get back to your normal life.
About Beach Dental
Dr. Alexis Gersten and Dr. Jason Parli at Beach Dental offers a wide range of services from simply preventive care to complex dental implant placement and restoration as well as Invisalign, veneers, and other cosmetic procedures. Our patients come from all over the area, including East Quogue, Manorville, Westhampton Beach, East Moriches, and other nearby communities. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment, feel free to reach out to us online here or call 631-325-0731.