Chipped Teeth – Minor Damage Can Lead To Bigger Problems

How to avoid chipping your teeth and what to do if it happens

Some dental problems become clear to us very quickly and obviously. A bad toothache caused by tooth decay, or a tooth breaking off means that we know we need to see a dentist as soon as we possibly can.

Not all oral health issues may cause this reaction though. Some problems produce initial signs and symptoms that it can be tempting to ignore, at least ‘for now’. One of these problems is when we chip a small piece from a tooth.

The degree of problem this can cause may depend on whether the chip exposes the dentin beneath the enamel or not. If it does, then bacteria may enter and tooth decay becomes a real possibility. Even if it doesn’t though, a small chip from a tooth can cause cuts and grazes to the soft tissues of our mouth, making infections more likely, and can also weaken a tooth, making further breakage possible. Even if you consider damage such as this to be ‘minor’, we strongly recommend that you contact your Ipswich dental clinic for an appointment to have it checked by one of our dentists as soon as you can.

Although restoring a chipped tooth is possible, the Foxhall Dental Practice strongly believes in preventative dentistry, and there are a number of things that you can do to minimise the risk of a chipped tooth in the first place.

Mouthguards

Whilst most of us won’t need to wear a mouthguard as we go about our daily life, anyone who plays a sport where contact is possible should consider wearing a mouthguard to protect their teeth. This doesn’t just apply to obvious sports such as boxing, but also to football and cricket etc where a blow to the mouth is uncommon but can, and does, happen and can cause significant damage well beyond chipping a tooth on occasions.

Teeth as tools

Please remember that your teeth are for chewing food, and even then we need to be sensible about what we try to use them for. Some things, such as chewing ice cubes, are a definite non-starter, as are trying to open packets or even bottles with our teeth. Doing so is asking for trouble and especially in the case of bottles, could be very harmful indeed. Chewing pencils or even our fingernails can cause our teeth to chip too. Finally, be wary of foods that may contain unexpected hard pieces, such as popcorn. If you do eat these, please pay attention as you do.

General oral health

Strong healthy enamel will help to prevent damage, although you still need to be aware of the above. Brush and floss your teeth daily and make sure that you see one of our Ipswich dental team, as well as the hygienist every six months in order to help maintain strong and healthy enamel on your teeth.

What to do when things go wrong?

As stated earlier, you shouldn’t ignore even a small chip in your teeth and should have it examined as soon as you can. There are a number of treatments that can be used to restore a tooth that has suffered damage in this way.

Sharp edges

Sometimes, the amount of enamel lost is so tiny that it is barely noticeable. Even so, this can produce very sharp edges which can cut into our gums and cheeks. This makes infection more likely and, if our mouths are sore, may even lead to us avoiding brushing due to discomfort. Where the damage is cosmetic and doesn’t threaten the integrity of the tooth, the dentist may smooth the sharp edge down to avoid this discomfort.

Composite

Depending on the location and condition of a chipped tooth, it may be possible to apply composite bonding to replace the lost enamel. Your dentist will determine if this is a feasible option as this may not be suitable for a bite area for example.

Fillings

If the chip has damaged the enamel to the extent that the dentin layer is exposed, it may be necessary to restore the damaged tooth with a filling. Patients will have the option of having white tooth fillings to maintain a natural appearance. This is becoming a widely used cosmetic dental treatment for an increasing number of patients who prefer to avoid the darker coloured amalgam fillings that have been widely used for a long time.

Crowns and veneers

For more significant damage, and to provide the tooth with both additional strength and a natural appearance, we may advise the use of either a crown or porcelain veneer, depending on the nature and location of the chip. Both of these will provide a long term solution and also prevent any damage from becoming worse.

Once again, if you have any dental issues, however small they might be, remember that we are here to help you. You can phone us for advice or make an appointment to see one of our friendly dentists. To do so, please call the Foxhall Dental Practice on 01473 258396.