There are many innocuous, and more serious causes, of chipped teeth:

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• Trauma to the face

• Cavities

• Biting something hard

• Opening packages with teeth

• Old amalgam fillings

• Bruxism or teeth grinding

 

Besides other considerations, a chipped tooth can change one’s smile and effect one’s personality.

 

What to do if you chip a tooth:

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• Call us for an appointment

 

In the meantime, …

• Rinse the tooth in warm water

• Apply pressure with gauze to stop any bleeding

• Cover the chipped tooth with some dental cement from the drug store

 

How we repair a chipped tooth:

 

Mildly chipped.

Smooth and reshape the tooth with bonding and contouring.

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Moderately chipped.

Can be repaired with a filling or a crown.

 

Severely chipped or broken teeth.

We perform a root canal and fabricate a crown.

 

Damage that penetrates all three layers of the tooth (enamel, dentin and pulp) are considered a dental emergency and require immediate treatment to prevent infection and long-term problems.

 

Prevention:

• Don’t chew on hard objects, especially bones, ice or unpopped popcorn kernels

• Wear a mouth guard when taking part in contact sports, including sports such as handball or racquetball

• Address issues of grinding or clenching

• Avoid physical confrontation (or sports such as kickboxing)

• Don’t open packages with your teeth