Your teeth are one of the strongest parts of your body, but there may come a time when you break or chip a tooth. A chipped tooth is an incredibly common dental issue and is usually not a serious issue unless the tooth is severely damaged. Whether or not you will need emergency treatment from a dentist, there are still several things you should do if you have chipped a tooth.
What To Do If You Have a Chipped Tooth
A chipped tooth usually happens as the result of a sudden accident that impacts your teeth. The most commonly chipped teeth are the front teeth and the incisors, but it’s possible to break or chip teeth that are deeper in the mouth. While you may be understandably flustered after breaking a tooth, it’s important to remain calm, so you can preserve the tooth and receive treatment quickly. The most important steps to follow after chipping a tooth include:
Collect Fragments
First, you will want to collect any fragments of the teeth that you can find. Tooth fragments may be found in your mouth, on the ground, or even in your clothes, such as a shirt pocket. You should do your best to find all the chipped tooth fragments, since your dentist may be able to use these fragments to repair your tooth.
After collecting tooth fragments, the best way to preserve the fragments is to store the tooth in a cup of milk or a baggie with your saliva. If the tooth fragment dries out, your dentist may not be able to use the fragment as part of your restoration treatment. This is especially important if the chipped tooth fragment is very large.
Rinse Mouth
Next, you will need to rinse your mouth out with warm salt water. Saline water can cleanse the bacteria from your mouth and soothe any discomfort you may be feeling, such as if the tooth nerve is exposed. It’s best to avoid very hot or very cold water, as extreme temperatures can cause excessive pain. You should also avoid mouthwash, since the ingredients may be irritating.
Stop Bleeding
If your tooth or gum is bleeding, you will need to stop the bleeding by packing the area around the tooth with gauze. If you do not have gauze on hand, a cotton ball wrapped in a soft napkin will suffice. It’s important to pack the tooth generously since more pressure around the bleeding area will help the bleeding stop more quickly. If you need to reapply gauze, you should rinse with warm salt water first.
Reduce Swelling
It may also be a good idea to reduce swelling along the gum line, which can help with pain relief in the long term. After breaking or chipping a tooth, you may have swelling in the mouth or on the face. Using a cold compress for 20 minutes at a time can reduce swelling, so you can be more comfortable while you wait for your appointment.
Pain Relief
You can use over-the-counter pain relief medication, as well. The type of pain medication you take will depend on your injury. While ibuprofen is generally more effective for dental nerve pain, this medication is not recommended if your gums are bleeding after chipping a tooth.
Sometimes, you may need to combine Tylenol and ibuprofen for adequate pain relief, or alternate taking these medications if one causes nausea. If you take any over-the-counter pain medication, be sure to consult the dosage information on the bottle or call your dentist for a recommendation on what you should take.
Tooth Protection
You can also protect the tooth from further chipping or breaking by applying temporary dental cement to the chipped part of your tooth. Do not try to reattach the tooth fragment with dental cement. Dental cement can protect your teeth from further damage until you can see your dentist.
Shield Tissue
Finally, if your chipped tooth is rough, it may scratch your lips or the inside of your cheeks and cause discomfort. You can apply dental wax to the edges of the tooth to shield the soft tissue of your mouth. You may also need to use dental wax if the nerve of your tooth is exposed, since dental cement may not be appropriate.
Is It Okay to Leave a Chipped Tooth Untreated?
You should not leave a chipped tooth untreated for long. When a chipped tooth is left untreated, it can cause long-lasting damage to the enamel of your teeth or potentially expose the nerves in your teeth. Other complications of an untreated chipped tooth are tooth pain, abscesses, infections, and tooth loss.
Should You Schedule an Emergency Dental Appointment?
Sometimes, you will need to schedule an emergency dental appointment if you are bleeding severely or if the pain is unmanaged by over-the-counter pain medication. An emergency dental appointment can help you get care for your chipped tooth in 24 to 48 hours most of the time.
However, not all chipped teeth will require an urgent visit to the dentist. If the chip is small, you can manage the discomfort at home, and you can protect the tooth from further damage, you can wait a few days to see your dentist. When you are scheduling your appointment, let the receptionist know that you have a chipped tooth to see if they can get you in sooner.
How is a Chipped Tooth Treated?
To treat a chipped tooth, a dentist will first need to examine the extent of the tooth damage and perform X-rays to assess if the damage is deeper in the tooth. From there, your dentist will make recommendations to correct the cosmetic flaw or address chipped tooth complications, such as bacterial infections. The size of the chip may also influence the treatment method.
Small Chips
Some small chips can easily be sanded or filed down with a dental polishing tooth to smooth away any rough edges. Sometimes, a dentist may recommend a resin filling on the chip to restore or even out the appearance of your teeth, or even use porcelain veneers for cosmetic restoration.
Medium Chips
Medium chips can sometimes damage deeper layers of the tooth, such as the enamel layer. For a medium chip, crowns and veneers can be used to protect the pulp of the tooth and correct any cosmetic concerns you may have.
Large Chips
Large chips typically present the greatest risk to your oral health and may also cause significant pain. For a large chip, you may need emergency dental care. The treatment plan for a large chip may include crowns, veneers, or even a root canal if the nerve of the tooth has been exposed. Sometimes, extracting the chipped tooth and replacing it may be necessary.
What Causes a Chipped Tooth?
The most common causes of a chipped tooth include high-impact force to the teeth (such as from contact sports or falling), trauma from an accident, or biting into very hard food or objects. A chipped tooth may also be caused by poor nutrition, teeth that are weakened by cavities, and grinding your teeth, which wears down the enamel layer and weakens the teeth.
If you have a chipped tooth, the best thing you can do is schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. A fast treatment plan can preserve the health of your teeth, correct cosmetic flaws, and prevent serious complications like infections.
Are You Searching For A Martinsburg Area Dental Office for You Or Your Family?
If you’re searching for an experienced dentist please feel free to contact us online or call our Martinsburg, West Virginia dental office directly at 304.267.6059 to schedule your appointment. We provide a wide range of general dentistry care as well as more involved dentistry services for patients throughout the Martinsburg area and look forward to you joining the Cornerstone Dental family.
