If you have experienced having a chipped tooth, you are not alone. Chipped teeth account for most dental injuries. They can occur when you sustain a sudden impact or stress or bite down on a tough object such as fingernails, ice, or candy. No matter how you get a chipped tooth, this should not be taken lightly. You need to find a dental practice in Spring, TX, that can help you get the right treatment.
The right way to treat your chipped tooth depends on the location of the tooth as well as the kind and extent of its injury. A dentist may restore a chipped tooth using procedures such as dental bonding, crowns, and fillings. Also, root canal treatment may be considered when the tooth pulp’s nerve is exposed. In this case, you need to get an immediate assessment from your doctor. Appropriate treatment and prompt care will provide you with the best chance to save your tooth. Read on to know more about the various degrees of chipping and the different wants they can be treated:
Small-Moderate Tooth Chips
If the edges of your teeth have very small chips, your dentist will use dental instruments to polish them, getting rid of the rough edges. Such chips often happen near the front teeth’s biting surfaces. Small to moderate tooth chips can usually be repaired by dental bonding. This process involves the application of special high-tech materials to your tooth surface to restore the lost structure. The bonding material anchors firmly to your teeth and looks very lifelike. You can get this procedure done in one dental visit.
Big Chips
If your tooth is significantly chipped, your dentist may reattach the chipped part through bonding. An onlay or a full crown may restore the chipped tooth if part of its cusp has broken off; however, the roots have stayed intact. But if the damage is significant enough to extend into the pulp of the tooth, it will need prompt attention as it causes pain and discomfort. Such kind of injury often requires root canal treatment to get rid of the damaged pulp material before a dental crown can be placed.
Broken Tooth
This dental injury can have you experiencing sharp pain and bleeding, requiring prompt action. When the break happens above your gum line, your tooth can be saved. In the case of an exposed nerve, root canal treatment may be necessary. And bonding or a dental crown may be used to restore the tooth.
