What To Do About A Chipped Tooth

Boise Dental Tips

Let’s face it. Every day we are constantly putting wear and tear on our teeth. While we all go about our lives as usual, what would happen if you chipped a tooth during the day? How do you handle it and how long should you wait to get it fixed?

First and foremost, it’s important to understand what causes a chipped tooth. While falling and hitting your mouth can chip a tooth; sports injuries and chewing hard substances can all result in a chipped tooth as well. Furthermore, a cavity can weaken a tooth, turning parts of it brittle. That’s why it’s important to brush and floss regularly to keep your teeth healthy, strong, and cavity-free.

What To Do About A Chipped Tooth

Chipping a tooth can cause pain and sensitivity. Because of this, it’s extremely important to make an appointment with your Boise dentist to fix your tooth as soon as possible. Before you arrive at your appointment, make sure to keep a piece of gauze on your tooth if it’s bleeding. You can also place an icepack on your lips or cheeks near the chipped tooth to help alleviate any swelling and pain.

Once you are able to visit our Boise dental office, it’s important to continue with your normal cleaning routine as the best way to keep your teeth strong. Doing so can help you avoid chipping a tooth in the future.

Chipped Tooth Restorations

Fillings

Fillings don’t just cover cavities, in fact, sometimes they are used as a quick, easy, and affordable way to repair a chipped tooth. Fillings are best for small chips and can be placed in just one Boise dental visit.

Bonding

If your front tooth is chipped, your Boise dentist will most likely recommend bonding. With bonding, your Boise dentist will slightly roughen the surface of your tooth before applying an adhesive substance and attaching the bonding material. They will then shape the material and use ultraviolet light to harden it. Anesthesia is usually not needed, and the process can be done in as little as one visit.

Veneers

Veneers are thin pieces of tooth-colored porcelain that are attached to the front part of your tooth. Like bonding, your Boise dentist will slightly roughen the front of your tooth before applying an adhesive and attaching the veneer. However, veneers are formed in a lab, and they require a 2-3 week turn-around time before your Boise dentist can place them. While this process takes a bit longer, it does allow for a more beautiful, custom fit.

Crowns

For larger chips, Boise dental crowns may be in order. A crown is a tooth-colored cap that covers the surface of the tooth and provides protection. While regular Boise dental crowns often required two or three Boise dental visits, advances in oral health technology have allowed your Boise dentist to provide a faster, more effective solution. In fact, with the help of Cerec digital impressions, your Boise dentist can create and place a brand-new, custom made crown in just one visit. CEREC digital impressions provide a digital picture of your tooth before converting it into a 3-dimensional virtual model. Your restoration design data is then sent to a separate milling machine that contains a ceramic block that matches your tooth shade. About 10-20 minutes later, your all-ceramic, tooth-colored, best smile restoration is finished and ready to bond in place.

Root Canal

If your chip is so large that it reaches your tooth’s pulp, a root canal may be in order. With a root canal, your Boise dentist will remove the dead pulp from your tooth before cleaning out the root canal and sealing it to prevent additional bacteria from getting in. Your tooth is then covered with a Boise dental crown as mentioned above.

Got A Chipped Tooth?

If you have a broken or chipped tooth, schedule an appointment with Summit Dental. We can quickly restore the function and beauty of your smile in as little as one office visit. Contact us by filling out our online form or call us at (208) 314-2275 for more information.