You should see your local dentist in St Peters immediately if you shatter or chip a tooth. While a fractured tooth is not always an emergency, it certainly can be. When you call your dental office, a knowledgeable dental provider can assess whether you require emergency dental care. They will ask a series of questions and ensure you are not in pain. While there are times that a cracked, chipped, or broken tooth isn’t an emergency, more often than we would like, it is one. Since this certainly can lead to pain and discomfort from the injured tooth. We want you to be comfortable and will do our best to get you in right away should you be experiencing pain.
Chips and cracks are typically caused by biting down on something really hard or trauma. The manner in which your dentist handles the problem depends entirely on the break’s severity. A small chip may require a minor repair, whereas a major break will almost certainly require more extensive repairs that could lead to needing surgery. We will analyze the break and identify the best course of treatment.
Repairing a Minor Chip
A little chip on the surface of your tooth does not usually necessitate an emergency appointment. Of course, if you chip a tooth, you should still contact your dentist right away. We will be able to assess the situation to ensure that you are comfortable and this isn’t an emergency.
There are even times when a chipped tooth will not require anything. However, a person may want to get it fixed for cosmetic reasons.
Let’s look at some ways a chipped or cracked tooth can be addressed and repaired.
Filling or Bonding
Small chips can be treated with dental bondings or fillings, depending on where the chip is placed. If the enamel on a back tooth has chipped, a filling is the most likely remedy. If the chip is visible when you smile, however, tooth-colored cosmetic bonding may be a better option.
Dental bonding is the process of repairing minor cosmetic faults in teeth with a tooth-colored composite resin. It can restore your tooth while also restoring the natural appearance of your smile. This is because it is colored and shaped to mirror natural teeth.
Veneers
A veneer may be better than bonding if the chip is on a front tooth and you want a more permanent repair. Porcelain veneers are thin porcelain shells covering flaws on the teeth’ front side. They can last 15 years or more, whereas bonding is only suitable for a few years at best.
Repairing a Big Chip or Crack
A tooth with exposed dentin or dental pulp due to a big chip or crack may necessitate more than aesthetic repairs. Because they jeopardize the health of a tooth, these are more likely to be emergencies.
Dentin is the sensitive layer of the tooth beneath the enamel. Bacteria can more easily penetrate the dentin and form cavities when exposed. Large chips and cracks frequently need a dental crown, which provides more protection than a filling. Crowns safeguard the underlying natural tooth structure, while fillings replace lost enamel.
If the fracture or chip has exposed the dental pulp, you might even need to look at getting a root canal. The dental pulp comprises the nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues of the tooth. Before a cap can be applied to preserve the tooth, any injuries to the pulp must be addressed.
If you have a chipped or injured tooth and are concerned, give us a call. Our dental professionals would be happy to assist.
