Chipped
Tooth
Treatment in Ellenbrook
A chipped tooth can be embarrassing, painful, and affect your ability to eat comfortably. And they can lead to more significant problems, like sensitive teeth or gum disease.
Chipped Tooth
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What is a
Chipped Tooth?
Depending on the severity, a chipped tooth can cause damage ranging from a minor scratch to the total loss of the tooth. The dental injury can be caused by a hard blow, such as in a fall or accident, or by excessive wear and tear. Tooth surfaces become jagged, which can be painful and unsightly. If only the enamel is chipped, there should be no discomfort. It will be painful, however, if the chip exposes the nerve inside the tooth.
There is good news: a chipped tooth does not have to spell the end of the road. You have a good chance of having your tooth restored with dental restorations at Ellen Stirling Dental.
Why You Should Treat a
Chipped Tooth Right Away
Although chips in teeth are relatively common, they should not be ignored because they could lead to further damage or infection if left untreated.
A chipped enamel shouldn’t cause any pain. As long as it doesn’t cause severe pain or interfere with eating or sleeping, it’s not an emergency. It is still important to schedule a dentist appointment as soon as possible in order to avoid infection or further tooth damage.
Your chipped tooth should be treated right away if it causes you severe pain, leaves a sharp surface inside your mouth that may cut your soft tissue, or if the soft dentin layer inside your tooth is exposed.
Why Choose
Ellen Stirling Dental
for Treating Your Chipped Tooth in Ellenbrook
If you live in Ellenbrook, Western Australia, call us at (08) 6192 1036 for dental emergency care! We will see to it that your chipped tooth is treated as soon as possible so that you can get back to enjoying life without pain or discomfort. Our team of highly trained professionals is ready to help with all types of dental emergencies like a chipped tooth. Whether it’s broken teeth or an emergency root canal, we’re here for you when no one else is.
Let the friendly staff of Ellen Stirling Dental take care of everything from start to finish! We’ll make sure that every step along the way goes smoothly and efficiently, so that nothing stands between you and a smooth and chip-free tooth!
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FAQ'S About Chipped Tooth
How to care for a broken tooth or chipped tooth?
Until a dentist repairs your tooth, you can take steps to limit the damage to it until you see your dentist:
- Save any tooth fragments that you can and rinse them in warm water. Keep the fractured piece of tooth in a small sealed container or zip-lock bag immersed in either milk or saliva. If you bring them with you when you see your dentist, they may be able to reattach them.
- Rinse your mouth with warm water. Floss your teeth to remove food caught between them, as it can put even more pressure on your chipped tooth.
- If you are suffering from pain, take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen (Advil). You can also numb painful gums by applying clove oil around the area.
- Put a cold compress against your cheek to reduce swelling and relieve pain.
- Use temporary dental filling material, dental wax, or sugar-free gum to protect your gums and tongue.
- Avoid chewing on your chipped tooth.
Does a chipped tooth always cause pain?
Not always. If only a bit of tooth enamel is chipped, there should be no pain. However, you should still schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible to avoid infection or further damage.
What are the risk factors for a chipped tooth?
A weak tooth is more likely to chip than a strong one. Factors that reduce the strength of teeth include:
- Tooth decay and cavities erode enamel.
- Enamel can be worn down by bruxism (teeth grinding).
- Large fillings can also weaken teeth.
- Acid-producing foods, such as citrus juices, coffee, and spicy foods, can break down enamel and expose the surface of the teeth.
- Your mouth produces bacteria from sugary foods, and that bacteria can damage enamel.
- Heartburn and acid reflux are digestive disorders that can bring stomach acid into the mouth, where it can cause tooth damage.
- Frequent vomiting can result from eating disorders or alcohol abuse, producing acids that can eat away at your enamel.
- Older people are more likely to have weakened enamel because enamel deteriorates over time.
How to avoid chipping a tooth?
While accidents cannot be prevented, you can avoid damaging your teeth by taking care of them. Among the ways to keep your teeth healthy and avoid chipping them are:
- We recommend wearing a protective mouth guard if you participate in sports or activities with a high fall risk.
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss daily.
- After brushing your teeth, don’t rinse your mouth too much with water, as this will wash away the fluoride that strengthens the enamel.
- Limit your consumption of sugary snacks and sodas because the sugar and acid in them erode your tooth enamel.
What should I expect during a chipped tooth treatment?
The treatment for chipped teeth varies depending on the severity, location, and symptoms. In most cases, a minor chip can be fixed simply by polishing and smoothing the tooth. There is an array of treatment options available if the chips are more extensive:
Tooth Reattachment: If you managed to preserve the chipped fragment of your tooth, your dentist might be able to cement it back onto the tooth.
Dental Bonding: A composite resin material is attached to your tooth and moulded to the desired shape during treatment. This brings back the natural appearance of your tooth. Since composite resin matches the colour of your natural tooth, it blends in seamlessly.
Dental Onlays or Crowns: If the chip only affects a small portion of your tooth, your dentist may suggest an onlay, which is commonly used on a broken molar tooth. Your dentist may recommend a full dental crown if the damage to your tooth is severe.
You may be given an anaesthetic so that the dentist may examine your teeth and see if there is enough room for an onlay. Your dentist will manufacture an onlay or crown by taking a mould of your tooth and sending it to a dental laboratory. Once the onlay or crown is ready, your dentist will fit it to your tooth and then cement it in place.
Porcelain Veneers: Your dentist will smooth away a portion of the tooth’s enamel to make room for the dental veneer before placing it. They usually shave off less than a millimetre.
Your dentist will take an impression of your tooth and send it to a lab to construct the veneer. You may opt to have a temporary veneer while waiting for your permanent veneer. Your dentist will bond the permanent veneer to your tooth once it is ready.
Root Canal Treatment: Sometimes, the break can go all the way through the enamel and the dentin. There’s a chance it’ll infect the dental pulp if it gets to that point. A root canal is usually required if you have an infected pulp. This surgery entails cleaning and filling the tooth’s canals to prevent bacteria from infecting them again.
Tooth Extraction: In other circumstances, restoring the original tooth is dangerous or perhaps impossible for the patient. Unfortunately, in these cases, the tooth must be extracted. There’s no need to be concerned; alternative treatments can be used to replace the missing tooth.
How much does it cost to fix a chipped tooth?
The cost of tooth repair will depend on how badly damaged the tooth is and what dental treatment is necessary to restore it. Please come in for an emergency appointment with Ellen Stirling Dental so we can assess the condition of your tooth and recommend a treatment plan for you.