Regardless of how well you take care of your teeth, it’s easy to end up with a chipped tooth or, even worse, a cracked or broken one. That’s because chips can arise from a number of mundane activities like opening a package with your food, eating hard crunchy foods, or accidents that lead to you getting hit in the mouth.
A chipped tooth can be painless, or it can come with intense pain. What is certain about a chipped tooth is the fact it takes away from your smile and can even make you feel self-conscious. The best way to deal with a chipped tooth is to have it checked out and fixed by a dentist as soon as possible. The procedure your dentist will opt for depends on the specifics of your situation.
FIRST AID FOR A CHIPPED TOOTH
It might take a few weeks before you are able to go to the dentist when you chip a tooth, but there are some things you can do before your scheduled appointment that can make it easier for you to live with it until you can get professional help. For starters, save any piece of the tooth you can find. Your dentist might be able to attach it back with an adhesive.
If there is pain associated with the chip, take over-the-counter pain medication. That will help to minimize the pain and control the swelling. Rinsing your mouth often can also help you to remove food particles that can end up aggravating the tooth. If brushing your teeth leads to pain and discomfort because of the chip, clean the areas furthest from the tooth in question and use a quality mouthwash to clean the rest of your mouth.
If you still experience lots of pain even after taking over-the-counter painkillers, apply an ice pack to the area around the tooth. This will further reduce any swelling and pain associated with the injury.
PROCEDURES USED TO ADDRESS CHIPPED TEETH
Your dentist has a handful of options when it comes to addressing chipped teeth. These include:
1. DENTAL BONDING
If you are dealing with a minor tooth chip, your dentist might decide to use a dental bond to address the issue. The dentist applies a soft resin to the chip and molds it into the gap. The dentist then hardens the resin using a special light. Dental bonding can also reattach a piece of your tooth that breaks off if you are able to save it.
2. DENTAL CROWNS
Crowns are often for more serious cases of chipped teeth. Also known as caps, these crowns act as a protective cover for any natural tooth that sustains damage. It protects the pulp and nerves from damage due to exposure to food particles and high/low temperatures.
3. DENTAL VENEERS
These act as covers that are used to cover imperfections on a tooth like a chip. The enamel of the tooth is covered with a thin layer of porcelain by your dentist to ensure a naturally-looking fit.
GET A SECOND OPINION TO SEE HOW A COSMETIC DENTIST CAN HELP YOU
While a general dentist can help keep teeth healthy, cosmetic dentistry can help patients achieve the appearance of their teeth that they desire. We have the same level of scientific education as a general dentist but have taken additional steps to ensure that any treatments we provide our patients can look natural and improve the appearance of their smile. In other words, we treat oral health problems and aesthetic challenges.
Anyone who visits the dentist and finds out they need a crown for a replacement tooth should visit our clinic before doing anything else. After conducting a thorough examination, we can provide a second opinion and discuss what solutions we recommend. Sometimes, the solutions we suggest are similar to a general dentist but the approach and technique that we use are different.
For example, if a tooth suffers significant dental damage, it is likely that we will need to place a dental crown on it. A dental crown is a cap that surrounds the tooth entirely so nothing touches it and so the tooth does not cause any discomfort when in use. While the concept is the same, the type of crown directly impacts how the tooth looks after placing the restoration.
If a dentist uses a silver or amalgam crown, it will stand out and be obvious. In our office, we place tooth-colored crowns that are designed to look like natural teeth. This ensures that our patients’ smiles look beautiful and intact in spite of the dental work they have had done. For anyone who cares about the appearance of their smile, it is important to speak with a cosmetic dentistry office before agreeing to the procedure.
PROBLEMS WE ADDRESS IN OUR OFFICE
We help patients that are struggling with oral health problems that include dental decay, tooth infections and gum disease. When addressing these issues, we look at the best way to do so for our patients’ health and also their appearance.
Additionally, we can solve the following aesthetic problems:
- Crooked teeth
- Gaps in between teeth
- Teeth that are the wrong size or shape for a person’s frame or for creating a symmetrical smile
- Yellow or stained teeth
- Missing teeth
- Cracked or chipped teeth
By addressing these issues we can create a beautiful and symmetrical smile that our patients are proud to show off.
SOLUTIONS IN COSMETIC DENTISTRY
The issues that we treat are incredibly diverse because the needs of our patients are diverse. Additionally, we offer multiple solutions for each one. For example, someone is missing a tooth, we can replace it with a fixed dental bridge or a dental implant. Both are effective and we can discuss these options in greater detail during a consultation. This allows our patients to select a treatment solution that is going to work for their lifestyle and budget.
Some of the treatment solutions we use are:
- Tooth-colored dental crowns
- Dental veneers
- Dental bridges
- Dental implants
- Dental bonding
- Teeth whitening solution
SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH LIBERTY VILLAGE DENTAL CARE
We would be happy to conduct an examination and make recommendations that are specific to your situation. To do so, we need you to call us and schedule an appointment today.