A chipped tooth can occur for numerous reasons, from biting down on hard food to taking a blow to the face when playing sports. Regardless of the cause, it’s critical to take steps to ensure that your chipped tooth doesn’t worsen.
If you have a chipped tooth and are wondering what to do when you chip your tooth, the first thing to do is assess the damage and perform basic first aid. Then, contact your dentist immediately.
Depending on the extent of the damage, your dentist may prescribe treatments, including dental bonding, veneers, or dental crowns. These steps can help ensure that your chipped tooth doesn’t become a dental emergency.
Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency?
A chipped tooth can sometimes become a dental emergency that needs to be treated right away by an emergency dentist. A large chip can damage the tooth’s pulp, introducing bacteria into the tooth and leading to infection. A chipped tooth can also cause severe damage to the gums and other tissues in the mouth.
In some cases, your chipped tooth may appear superficial, but there may be underlying trauma to the pulp, periodontal ligaments, or jaw bone. Visiting an emergency dentist allows them to take X-rays to examine the interior of your tooth and jaw to fully assess the damage.
What To Do When You Chip Your Tooth: First Aid
If you have a chipped tooth, it’s vital to seek dental treatment from an emergency dentist as soon as possible. In the meantime, there are some things you can do to minimise the damage and reduce your risk of infection.
Control the Bleeding
If you chip your tooth and it starts to bleed, it’s a dental emergency, and it is essential to control the bleeding immediately. The best way to do this is to apply pressure to the bleeding area with a clean cloth.
Rinse Your Mouth with salt water
Rinsing your mouth with salt water helps reduce the swelling and soothes the pain. It also helps remove debris from the tooth and eliminates bacteria to reduce the risk of infection.
Apply an Ice Pack
Apply an ice pack to the outside of your mouth to reduce the swelling. Do not apply the ice directly to your skin, as this could cause an ice burn. Wrap the ice pack in a towel or cloth, and apply it to the affected area for 20 minutes at a time.
Take an OTC Medication
If you are in pain, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen. This helps reduce discomfort and inflammation.
Use Dental Wax or Sugar-Free Gum to Seal the Tooth
You should seal the tooth with dental wax or sugar-free gum if the chip is jagged. This protects your cheeks, gums, and tongue from irritation and lacerations.
What To Do When You Chip Your Tooth: Dental Treatments
Several dental treatments can be used to repair a chipped tooth. Your emergency dentist can help you decide the best treatment depending on the size and location of the chip, as well as the overall health of your tooth.
Contouring
Contouring is a simple procedure in which the dentist uses a dental handpiece to reshape the tooth. This procedure is often used to correct small chips or irregularities in the teeth. It can also be used to adjust the tooth’s shape, making it appear more symmetrical.
Contouring is a relatively quick and painless procedure and is often performed without anaesthesia. However, it can improve the appearance of your smile.
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is when a tooth-coloured resin is applied in layers to a chipped or cracked tooth and hardened with a UV light. The procedure can be completed in a single visit.
Bonding is often used for small chips or craze lines, as it is not as strong as other dental restorations such as veneers or crowns. However, bonding can last between 5 and 10 years with proper care.
Dental Veneers
Veneers are a type of dental prosthetic used to fix a chipped tooth and improve the appearance of teeth. They are made of thin porcelain or composite shells bonded to the front surfaces of the teeth.
Veneers are suitable for minor chips in the tooth enamel but cannot treat more significant damage to the dentin or pulp. Applying a veneer to a large chip can leave the underlying tooth vulnerable to bacterial infection, acid erosion, and decay.
Dental Crown
A dental crown is a cap cemented onto a tooth to restore its shape and size. Dental crowns are often used to restore a tooth that requires a dental emergency, like a chip extending to the pulp.
Crowns are usually made from porcelain or ceramic and are matched to the colour of your natural teeth. Crowns usually require two visits to complete because you need to wait for the crown to be made in an off-site lab.
Alternatively, you can get Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics (CEREC) dental crowns. These crowns are fabricated within minutes from a solid block of tooth-coloured zirconia using state-of-the-art CAD/CAM technology.
When the crown is ready, your dentist cements the crown onto your prepared tooth. This means you can regain your smile in a single visit to our dental practice.
Repair Your Chipped Tooth at No Gaps Dental
If you are wondering what to do when you chip your tooth, No Gaps Dental can help. A chipped tooth can be a painful and frustrating experience. Not only is it unsightly, but it can also make eating and drinking difficult. Leaving a chipped tooth untreated can also potentially lead to decay and infection, requiring more extensive treatment.
No Gaps Dental offers emergency dentist services and a variety of options for repairing chipped teeth. If you are concerned about your chipped tooth, schedule a consultation with us or call us on (02) 8007 6727 today. We will work with you to develop a treatment plan that meets your needs.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
Study: Ibuprofen, acetaminophen more effective than opioids in treating dental pain
https://thedaily.case.edu/study-ibuprofen-acetaminophen-effective-opioids-treating-dental-pain/
What are veneers?
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/veneers#what-are