Tooth enamel is the strongest tissue in the human body. But despite this, dental trauma can happen to children and adults alike. And this unpleasantness happens unexpectedly, bringing considerable discomfort. In this article we will tell you why a tooth chipped or broken, and what to do in such a situation.
There are many causes of tooth damage, but the only way to solve this dental problem is to get prompt help from a specialist, which will restore the integrity of the tooth, and with it, the aesthetics of your smile and chewing activity.
Among the popular reasons for a chipped tooth are:
- Consumption of solid and sticky foods
- Mechanical damage (fall, impact)
- Calcium deficiency in the body
- Caries that have been neglected or under-treated
- Incorrectly installed or old seal
- Cracked enamel
- Bite anomalies
Chips vary in the degree of damage. But all of them can be aesthetically restored if you go to the dentist in time.
- A chip within the enamel. This is an injury to the tooth within the enamel, which does not cause painful sensations. That is why it is rare to have this problem, especially if the tooth does not fall within the smile zone.
- A chip within the dentin. This is damage to the less dense layer underneath the enamel, in which the tooth reacts to hot and cold, to sweet and sour. And if you don't see a dentist right away, the rest of the dentin will wash away. There will be a sharp pain because the nerve of the tooth is exposed.
- A chip to the pulp. A deep chip affects the pulp of the tooth, which is accompanied by an extreme throbbing pain. This is a serious injury that can lead to tooth loss if dental care is not provided immediately.
Is a baby tooth chipped? Chipped baby teeth are more common than in adults. This is due to the increased activity of children. Parents incorrectly believe that baby teeth can be left untreated and not repaired after chipping, because the indigenous ones will eventually grow back. After all, it's healthy first teeth that make for strong teeth as adults!
What should I do if a tooth has chipped off? Disinfect your child's mouth and go to the pediatric dentist. He or she will apply a special gel to "preserve" the damaged tooth and prescribe treatment. The most common way to repair a baby tooth is with a filling.
If a piece of your tooth has chipped off, see your dentist. He will prevent further breakage and will carry out the restoration of the tooth with modern materials.
The specialist will suggest the best treatment option depending on the extent of the chip and the location of the tooth:
- Filling. Tooth restorations with fillings are possible on both front and back teeth in the case of minor chips. Modern light-curing composite materials are used for this purpose.
- Veneers. These are ceramic onlays on the front surface of the tooth and the incisal edge. Suitable when it is not possible to "augment" the tooth with a filling. Veneers perfectly restore the shape of teeth in the smile zone.
- Inlays. This is a modern alternative to fillings - ceramic inlays for restoring masticatory teeth if they are more than half destroyed. They successfully restore the shape and activity of the teeth, and do not wear out or shrink.
- Crowns. If a large chunk of the tooth with damage to the pulp chamber has broken off, a crown must be placed after the nerve has been removed and the root canals have been treated. If an anterior tooth has chipped off, then aesthetic ceramic restorations are suitable for its restoration, and strong zirconia or metal-ceramic constructions are suitable for chewing teeth.
If you don't pay attention to a broken or chipped tooth and don't treat it, you may have a number of related problems.
Among them:
- Increased tooth sensitivity
- Infection of the pulp
- Cysts and granulomas
