Chipped teeth can range from minor cosmetic chips to a more severe break. It can sometimes be hard to tell the severity of the chip right away. Treatment options for broken teeth can vary greatly, depending on the condition of your tooth. But what’s crucial is that you take care of the chip or crack immediately. Dr. Paul Karpovich can treat broken, cracked, and chipped teeth in his Timonium, MD, dental office.
Enamel is one of the hardest substances in the body. But even enamel can break sometimes. Broken teeth can happen due to trauma from falls or if you’re playing contact sports without a mouthguard. Grinding your teeth can cause large chips to come off a tooth, or you may bite down wrong on something hard, like ice or hard candy.
Chipped and broken teeth are a common dental concern we can fix in our office. Whether you have a sudden accident or damage due to weakened teeth, we’re here to help.
Risk Factors for Broken Teeth
Certain factors can make you more likely to chip a tooth. It makes sense that weaker teeth are more likely to break. Naturally, our tooth enamel starts to wear down over time. As we get older, we’re more likely to chip a tooth. Teeth are softer, and you see more of the dentin layer underneath.
Anything that compromises your tooth enamel will weaken your teeth and make them more likely to fracture. Tooth decay is common yet highly damaging to teeth. Dental infections can create cavities or holes in the enamel. Large dental fillings that treat these holes may also weaken the teeth. You can chip or damage your tooth further if you have a dental infection.
Your diet and medical conditions may also increase your risk of tooth damage. If you’re eating a lot of sugar, bacteria feed off it and release digestive acids that break down your outer tooth layer. Acidic foods and drinks like lemonade or soda weaken the enamel, too.
Acid is one of the most dangerous things for tooth enamel. Conditions like acid reflux and heartburn bring acid up into the mouth frequently. Eating disorders bring acid up as well. If you’re often throwing up and purging, acid is consistently coming up into your mouth and hitting your teeth.
What Do I Do if I Chip a Tooth?
If you chip a tooth, avoid panicking. If you can, salvage the piece of the tooth that’s broken off. Put it in a cup of saliva to increase how long it’s viable for replacement. A chip can leave sharp edges on your tooth, endangering your tongue and cheek tissue. Put sugar-free gum or dental wax over the sharp edges to avoid cuts.
Make sure you avoid chewing with the chipped tooth. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever and ice the area if you are experiencing pain. Ice will help lower swelling. If you experience bleeding, gently rinse your mouth and apply a clean cloth or gauze to the area.
You want to make a dental appointment even if you have a smaller tooth chip. If you damage the tooth further, you can develop an infection that exposes the tooth’s interior.
You must visit Dr. Karpovich for immediate treatment if you have a large tooth chip. Dr. Karpovich’s office provides emergency dentistry treatment to help preserve your teeth.
Treating Chipped Teeth in Timonium, MD
There are multiple options we offer to treat a chipped tooth. If you clench and grind your teeth, you can chip your tooth. Continually grinding your teeth can damage them over time. If you have a TMJ disorder, we will recommend a nightguard.
We can create a custom acrylic night guard for you to wear during sleep. This nightguard will cover and protect the teeth from further wear or damage. Teeth clenching and grinding can chip or crack your teeth. Stopping this harmful habit will lessen your chance of tooth damage and reduce stress on your jaw.
We can also fix chipped teeth with dental bonding treatment. Teeth bonding treatment uses tooth-colored materials to add structure to damaged teeth. Dr. Karpovich color-matches your bonding material to other natural teeth. Color-matching ensures that the treated tooth blends in with the smile.
Dental bonding is a great fix for minor cosmetic imperfections like small tooth chips. We can also provide bonding treatment in just one office visit.
If you have extensive damage to your tooth, we may recommend a dental crown. A crown will cover your damaged tooth like a cap to prevent further damage. We may recommend a root canal or dental extraction in severe cases. This is required if an infection is inside a tooth chip or a patient has severe tooth damage.
Chipped Teeth FAQs
Learn more about chipped teeth in Timonium, MD, with answers to these common questions:
Which tooth is most susceptible to chipping?
All your teeth are technically susceptible to chipping. However, studies have shown that certain teeth are more likely to chip than others. The second lower molar seems to be a target for chipping, as it takes on a decent amount of pressure when biting and chewing. Any tooth that’s had fillings is more susceptible to chipping as well.
Why should you treat a chipped tooth?
Treating a chipped tooth is essential to prevent infection and damage. An infection can enter a chip in the tooth and affect the pulp that keeps the tooth alive. As a result, you not only need to treat the chipped tooth, but also infection.
Losing a part of your tooth structure can also affect your bite. After you damage a tooth, you can find it harder to eat properly. Biting and chewing can damage a chipped tooth further. This makes your daily life uncomfortable and increases your risk of damaging other teeth in your mouth.
Will a chipped tooth hurt?
If the chip is small and doesn’t affect the nerve inside the tooth, you might not feel any pain at all. Some people only notice a rough edge when they run their tongue over it.
A larger tooth chip might cause some sensitivity or discomfort, especially when eating hot, cold, or sweet foods. If the chip is large and exposes the inner part of the tooth, you might feel pain. This is because the tooth damage can expose the nerves inside the tooth.
How much is it to repair a chipped tooth?
The cost to repair a chipped tooth can vary depending on how big the chip is and what type of treatment you need. Dental Bonding is a common and less expensive way to fix a chipped tooth. This method uses a special material to fill in the chip.
If the chip is larger or you want to improve the look of the tooth, you may benefit from a veneer. Veneers cost more than bonding but last longer. Our dentist might recommend a crown covering the entire tooth for a severely chipped tooth. Porcelain crowns cost more than veneers and bonding treatments because they cover a larger area.
Can I repair a chipped tooth at home?
It’s not safe to repair a chipped tooth at home. Some people might try to use things like dental wax or super glue, but these are only temporary and can cause more problems. Super glue can harm your mouth and make it harder for your dentist to fix the tooth later.
If a chip exposes the inner part of your tooth, it can lead to infections. Our dentist can clean the area properly to prevent infection. Dentists have special tools and materials that can make a strong, lasting repair. They can also make sure the tooth looks good and feels comfortable.
How long can a chipped tooth go untreated?
If the chip is small and doesn’t hurt, you might be able to wait a few days or even weeks to see our dentist. However, you should get it checked sooner rather than later. If you leave a chipped tooth untreated for months or longer, you could face infection or further tooth damage.
Can TMJ increase the risk of chipped teeth?
TMJ issues can increase the risk of chipped teeth. Many people with TMJ problems grind their teeth, especially at night. This grinding, called bruxism, puts a lot of pressure on the teeth, which can lead to chips and cracks.
People with TMJ often clench their jaws. This tight clenching can also put extra stress on the teeth, making them more likely to chip. TMJ can cause the jaw to be misaligned, which means the teeth don’t fit together correctly. This misalignment can lead to uneven wear on the teeth, making them more prone to chipping.
Can I prevent my teeth from chipping in the future?
Yes, you can take steps to help prevent your teeth from chipping in the future. First, be careful with hard foods like nuts, hard candies, and ice. Biting down on these can cause chips. Cut tough foods into smaller pieces instead of biting down hard. This is especially important for things like apples or raw vegetables.
If you play sports, wearing a mouthguard can protect your teeth from injuries. Mouthguards can also help if you grind your teeth at night. Stress can lead to teeth grinding (bruxism), which can chip teeth. Try relaxation techniques like deep breathing, yoga, or talking to someone about your stress.
Fix Broken Teeth Today
Treat chipped teeth in Timonium, MD, to preserve your smile. Our office offers various treatment methods to ensure your tooth is repaired correctly. Call Dr. Karpovich at (410) 221-3085 or schedule an appointment online. Please let us know if you have questions about treatment for your chipped tooth. Dr. Karpovich will work with you to find the best treatment possible.