Despite the fact that tooth enamel is stronger than bone, chipped teeth are a common dental problem. Oral trauma, chewing on hard foods or objects, teeth grinding, and using your teeth to tear open packages can all cause chips and cracks of all sizes.
As you get older, you may notice small chips in your teeth that may not seem like a big cause for concern. However, if the chip goes deeper than the protective outer layer, it can result in severe pain and even lead to tooth decay and even an infection down the road.
Layers of a Tooth
Your teeth are composed of 4 unique layers: enamel, dentin, pulp, and cementum. The deepest layer is the pulp, which contains blood vessels, sensitive nerve fibers, and immune cells. Tooth pulp is surrounded by tubules, called dentin, that have a yellow tint and also contain nerve fibers. Dentin makes up the majority of the tooth. Cementum is a layer that covers the dentin and helps anchor the tooth to its bony socket. And the final outer layer is the hard outer shell of enamel.
When a tooth gets chipped and only impacts the enamel, it typically doesn’t result in tooth sensitivity or pain. However, chips of all sizes can compromise the tooth, leading to increased erosion or deeper cracks in the tooth over time.
Treating Chipped Teeth
The treatment for chipped teeth varies depending on the size and severity of the damage.
Small Chip: If you’ve experienced a minor chip in one or more of your teeth that does not cause you pain, we recommend mentioning the event to your dentist at your next cleaning or appointment. They can then examine the damage to determine if immediate treatment is necessary, or if the chip should simply be observed over time. The treatment for a small chip usually involves smoothing and polishing the chipped tooth.
Medium Chip: If your chipped tooth involves moderate damage to the enamel and could potentially expose the dentin, it will need treatment. Your dental professional will likely recommend placing a filling or dental crown over the chipped tooth to restore its appearance and function. A crown also protects the inner layers of the teeth from infection.
Large Chip: A severe chip may expose the tooth nerve, and often will require an immediate root canal to prevent infection. A crown will likely also be necessary after the root canal to restore the strength and function of the tooth.
Family Dentist in Flagstaff, Arizona
Whether your chipped tooth is minor or severe, we recommend consulting your local dentist to see if treatment is advised. Preventative treatment of a slightly chipped tooth is often necessary to avoid infection and restore the full health of the tooth.
At Country Club Dental Flagstaff, many of our patients do not have dental insurance to cover these incidents. That’s why we have a Dental Savings Club that can save you up to 20%. And when you visit us, ask about CareCredit, a zero percent term APR financing option, for those that qualify, that can make your visit even more affordable.
Give us a call at 928-526-4314 today to make an appointment.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use. Photo by Drew Hays on Unsplash (11/4/2020)
