Have you ever gone to brush your teeth and noticed a chip in your front tooth? Maybe you’ve played a contact sport and broken a tooth on the field or crunched on hard candy and chipped a molar.
No matter how it happens, having a chipped tooth can affect your smile and self-confidence. Thankfully, there are a number of ways to fix broken teeth.
At Dental Boutique, we offer a range of cosmetic dental solutions to fix all kinds of chipped teeth.
Our expert professionals have your best interests at heart and will always prioritise your smile goals. They work collaboratively with you to find the best dental solution and restore your smile to its former glory.
Why Does a Tooth Break? The Causes of a Chipped Tooth
There are many reasons why a tooth may break.
Teeth are your mouth’s frontline workers; they bear the brunt of wear and tear due to everyday activities like chewing and speaking. This means they can sometimes be subjected to chipping and breakage. The common causes of chipped teeth include:
- Bruxism or excessive teeth clenching
- Biting or chewing hard substances, like nuts, hard candies, and ice
- Participating in contact sports without wearing a mouthguard
- Experiencing injuries such as a fall, a car accident, or a blow to the face
Is it Okay to Leave a Chipped Tooth?
The short answer is no. No matter the severity, chipped teeth must be treated immediately to avoid further damage that could lead to infection or tooth loss.
The first and most important step to take when caring for a broken or chipped tooth is to book a dental appointment. Your dentist will be able to diagnose your chipped tooth and determine the best course of action.
Chipped teeth can cause serious pain, and waiting for a regular dental appointment can take time. So, if you’re experiencing discomfort, don’t suffer in silence! At Dental Boutique, we accommodate emergency treatments to fix chipped teeth and ease pain as soon as possible.
While you won’t be able to fix your chipped tooth at home, there are a variety of temporary remedies that can help ease your pain and prevent the tooth from breaking further:
- Use salt water to rinse and purify your mouth.
- Gently floss to remove food and other particles that could irritate the wound.
- Take over-the-counter medication to ease pain and discomfort.
What are the Dental Treatments for a Chipped Tooth?
The dental treatment for a chipped tooth will depend on the severity and location of the break.
Chipped molar teeth are usually fixed with fillings, whereas chipped front teeth are often fixed with dental bonds, veneers, or dental crowns.
At Dental Boutique, we offer a wide range of cosmetic treatments to fix chipped teeth. Our team of professionals will assess the area and work with you to determine the best course of action.
Dental Bonding
Dental composite bonding is a great solution for minor tooth chips. This treatment is a form of adhesive dentistry used to replace the parts of your teeth that have broken off. Your dentist will apply a tooth-coloured resin to the chipped tooth, which will correct the shape and restore your smile.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain Veneers can solve many dental problems, including chipped teeth. They’re thin, tooth-like shells that are placed over your natural teeth to improve their shape and colour. Porcelain Veneers also provide extra stability to protect your teeth and improve the function of your smile.
Crowns
If your tooth is severely chipped, you may need a porcelain tooth crown. This cosmetic treatment involves removing a layer of the tooth’s outer surface and permanently attaching a porcelain replacement. Dental crowns are the best solution for severe tooth chips because they’re as strong as they are aesthetically-pleasing.
Root Canal
When a chipped tooth is not treated quickly, it may become infected. In extreme cases, a tooth extraction is necessary. However, if the structure of the tooth remains strong, your dentist may recommend a root canal.
Root canals are performed under local anesthesia to minimise pain. This procedure involves drilling a small hole in the chipped tooth to treat the infected nerve space underneath the root. Most root canals are treated with a dental crown to strengthen and protect the affected tooth.
How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Chipped Tooth?
The cost of fixing a chipped tooth will depend on the dental treatment required. However, we offer payment plan options that make our services more accessible.
We offer a complimentary consultation so you can identify your several options before they fix your chipped teeth. We also offer payment plans for porcelain veneers, starting at $96 per week, not including health fund benefits or deductions.
How to Prevent Chipping Teeth: The Key Takeaway
Maintaining oral health and hygiene can help to prevent chipped teeth.
It’s important to reduce your intake of sugar and acidic food or drink to keep your teeth strong and healthy. If you suffer from acid reflux, seek treatment as soon as possible to mitigate any risk to your teeth.
If you are susceptible to teeth grinding and excessive clenching in your sleep, you could see a sleep specialist or invest in a mouthguard to protect the enamel of your teeth. A mouthguard should also be worn while playing contact sports to ensure your teeth don’t get damaged. Above all, it’s absolutely essential to not use your teeth as a tool! Though our teeth are strong, they could become chipped or damaged if used to open or pull something.
Summary
- Teeth can chip due to bruxism (grinding/clenching), chewing hard substances, injuries or playing contact sports without a mouthguard.
- Chipped teeth should be treated promptly to prevent further damage, infection, or tooth loss. Emergency treatments and temporary remedies like rinsing with salt water or taking pain relief can provide short-term care.
- Dental Boutique offers solutions such as dental bonding for minor chips, porcelain veneers for enhanced appearance and stability, crowns for severe chips and root canals for infections.
- Ensure to maintain good oral hygiene, avoid using teeth as tools, reduce sugar and acidic intake and wear mouth-guards during sports or if prone to grinding teeth.
Start smiling proud today
About Dental Boutique
A Dental Boutique™ smile is carefully crafted to perfectly complement your uniqueness, all to achieve the most spectacular result. A Dental Boutique™ smile is carefully crafted to perfectly complement your uniqueness, all to achieve the most spectacular result. Find our more
