A Multitude Of Options: Dealing With A Chipped Tooth

Posted on: 9 March 2015

A chipped tooth is one of those things that can occur for any number of reasons. There are also several ways to deal with them. These methods of dealing with a chipped tooth can vary from having it removed to having it bonded. There are a few more things you can do as well.

The Scope of the Problem

The procedure you may want to consider for your chipped tooth has a lot to do with the nature of the chip. Missing a relatively small piece of the tooth and missing a large part of a tooth are cause for different possible treatments. It also matters if you have the chipped piece or not. If the incident that caused the chip is very recent, then you should take care of yourself first.

Take over-the-counter pain medication if you have any
Do a salt water rinse or a warm water rinse
If there's bleeding, apply a piece of gauze
If the chip is jagged, place sugarless gum or dental cement over it
If there's swelling, apply an ice pack

Of course, you should consult your dentist as soon as possible, but there's no guarantee you can get in to see the dentist immediately. That's why it's important to follow the listed suggestions in the meantime.

Your Options for a Chipped Tooth

You have a ton of options as to what you can do with a chipped tooth.

For small chips – Your dentist can smooth out a small chip with enamel shaping. This involves the smoothing out and recontouring of the tooth to remove jagged edges.

For medium chips - Your dentist may employ some enamel shaping, but may also use dental bonding to fill in the chip. Dental boding involves using a tooth-colored resin to camouflage the chipped area. Shaping may also play a roll. This is the most typical way of dealing with chipped teeth.

For large chips – A large chip comes with unique challenges. That's because a sufficiently large chip means you may have to go through more intensive and expensive treatment options. This is also where deciding to pull the tooth or not comes into play.

A large chip indicates possible damage to the tooth beyond just the chipped area. If the damage exposes a nerve, then you may need a root canal. If a piece of a molar breaks off, then you may need a filling and a cap. You can also leave the tooth as is and get dental veneers to cover it.

If it's necessary to remove the tooth, you open up other cosmetic possibilities such as implants and bridges. In all of these cases, the dentist will help you figure out what will work best for you.

Making the Decision

Often, fixing a chipped tooth is a cosmetic procedure. Sometimes, a chipped tooth can add character to a smile. Once you speak to a dentist like those at Delta Oaks Dental Care, it's up to you to figure out how far you want to go to hide that chipped tooth.

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When my three children were young, they were all excited to go to the dentist. The dentist's office was great fun with a large fish tank and a variety of puzzle toys in the waiting room. I liked the pediatric dental office so much that I jumped at the chance when I was offered a receptionist job. Many of the children who came to see the dentist were not nearly as happy as my children. Most kids were scared and anxious, and I learned fairly quickly that the children were worried because they had no idea what to expect. The dentist at the office provided me with a set of dental tools that I could show to the children. I explained how each of the devices worked. This eased the fears, and I started this blog so parents could share dental information with their children before dental visits.

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