Chipping or cracking a tooth is not only a frightening experience but can also cause discomfort and, untreated, pose a threat to dental and even overall health. Whether the result of an accident, biting down on something hard, or an underlying dental issue, knowing how to react when your tooth cracks is crucial.
Today we're laying out what to do when faced with a chipped or cracked tooth to minimize pain, prevent further damage, and ensure your smile remains healthy and beautiful.
Common Causes of Chipped Teeth
Chipped teeth are a common dental issue. Understanding the factors that cause them can help you take steps to protect your smile. To get you started, we've put together this list of factors that contribute to chipped teeth:
- Accidental trauma from a fall, sports injury, or impact to the face
- Biting hard objects like ice, unpopped popcorn kernels, olive pits, or non-food items like pen caps
- Weakened enamel from untreated cavities and tooth decay
- Frequent and sustained teeth grinding and clenching, or "bruxism"
- Age-related wear
- Poor oral hygiene
Awareness of these common causes of chipped or cracked teeth will help you adopt preventive measures and changes in habits to keep your smile chip-free.
Treatments for Chipped Teeth
Dealing with a chipped tooth can be stressful. Fortunately, there is a variety of dental procedures and treatments that can effectively restore your smile. The treatment appropriate for you will vary based on the severity of the chip, its location in the mouth, and its location on the tooth. Here are some of the most common:
- Dental Bonding – the application of a tooth-colored resin to a minor chip, restoring the tooth's appearance
- Dental Veneers – thin shells, custom-made out of dental porcelain, that are bonded to the front surface of a tooth/teeth to conceal chips
- Dental Crowns – a cap, often made of porcelain, custom-made to cover more extensive chips and protect the damaged tooth.
- Root Canal – in order to address pain and possible infection if a chip extends to the tooth's nerve
Consulting with a dentist will help determine the appropriate treatment option for you.
Cosmetic Dentist in Vancouver
If you're in Vancouver and seeking an experienced dentist to address a chipped tooth or any of your other cosmetic dentistry needs, contact dentist Dr. Jason Liu and the Meadow Ridge Dental team to schedule a consultation!