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Chipped Tooth? How to fix it?

learn about the various procedures available for chipped tooth

· tooth replacement

 

Symptoms of a chipped tooth

If the chip is minor and not at the front of your mouth, you may not know you have it at all. When you do have symptoms, however, they may include:

  • feeling a jagged surface when you run your tongue over your teeth
  • irritation of the gum around the chipped tooth.
  • irritation of your tongue from “catching” it on the tooth’s uneven and rough edge
  • pain from pressure on the tooth when biting, which can be intense if the chip is near to or exposes the nerves of the tooth

 

Diagnosing a chipped tooth

Your dentist can make a diagnosis of a chipped tooth via visible inspection of your mouth. They’ll also take into account your symptoms and ask you about events that may have caused the chipping.

 

 

Chipped tooth treatment options

Treatment of a chipped tooth generally depends on its location, severity, and symptoms. Unless it’s causing severe pain and significantly interfering with eating and sleeping, it’s not a medical emergency.

Still, you should make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible to avoid infection or further damage to the tooth. A minor chip can usually be treated by simply smoothing and polishing the tooth.

For more extensive chips your doctor may recommend the following:

Tooth reattachment

If you still have the tooth fragment that broke off, place it in a glass of milk to keep it moist. The calcium will help keep it alive. If you don’t have milk tuck it into your gum, making sure not to swallow it.

Then get to your dentist immediately. They may be able to cement the fragment back onto your tooth.

Bonding

A composite resin (plastic) material or porcelain (layers of ceramic) is cemented to the surface of your tooth and shaped to its form. Ultraviolet lights are used to harden and dry the material. After drying, more shaping is done until the material fits your tooth exactly.

Bonds can last up to 10 years.

Dental veneer

Before attaching a veneer, your dentist will smooth away some of the tooth’s enamel to make room for the veneer. Usually, they’ll shave away less than a millimeter.

Your dentist will make an impression of your tooth and send it to a lab to create the veneer. (A temporary veneer may be used in the meantime.) When the permanent veneer is ready, your dentist will bond it to your tooth.

Thanks to the durable materials, the veneer could last about 30 years.

Dental onlays

If the chip only affects a part of your tooth, your dentist may suggest a dental onlay, which is often applied to the surface of molars. (If damage to your tooth is significant, your dentist might recommend a full dental crown.) You may receive anesthesia so the dentist can work on your teeth to make sure there is room for an onlay.

In many cases, your doctor will take a mold of your tooth and send it to a dental lab to create the onlay. Once they have the onlay, they will fit it onto your tooth and then cemented it on.

With advances in technology, some dentists can mill porcelain onlays right in the office and place them that day.

Dental onlays can last for decades, but a lot depends on whether you eat a lot of foods that put wear and tear on the onlay and what tooth was affected. For example, one that gets a lot of pressure when you chew, such as a molar, will wear more easily.

 

 

Dental Treatment costs

Costs vary greatly by what part of the country you live in. Other factors are what tooth is involved, the extent of the chip, and whether the pulp of the tooth (where the nerves are) is affected. In general, though, here’s what you might expect to pay:

  • Tooth planing or smoothing. About INR3000.
  • Tooth reattachment. You’ll have to pay for the dental exam, which is usually between INR1500 to INR 25000. However, because tooth reattachment doesn’t require much in the way of materials, the charge should be minimal.
  • Bonding. INR1000 to INR 12,000, depending on the complexity involved.
  • Veneers or onlays. INR 6500 to INR 20,000, but this will depend on the material used and how much the tooth has to be prepared before affixing the veneer/crown.

 

Self-care for a chipped tooth

While you most likely will need a dentist to repair a chipped tooth, there are steps you can take to reduce injury to the tooth until you see your doctor.

  • Place temporary dental filling material, a teabag, sugar-free gum, or dental wax over the jagged edge of the tooth to protect your tongue and gums.
  • Take an anti-inflammatory painkiller such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) if you have pain.
  • Place ice on the outside of your cheek if the chipped tooth is causing irritation to the area.
  • Floss to remove food caught between your teeth, which can cause even more pressure on your chipped tooth when you chew.
  • Avoid chewing using the chipped tooth.
  • Swipe clove oil around any painful gums to numb the area.
  • Wear a protective mouth guard when you play sports or at night if you grind your teeth.

 

Complications of chipped teeth

When the chip is so extensive that it starts to affect the root of your tooth, infection can ensue. Treatment usually is a root canal. Here, some symptoms of such an infection:

  • pain when eating
  • sensitivity to hot and cold
  • fever
  • bad breath or sour taste in your mouth
  • swollen glands in your neck or jaw area

 

Outlook

A chipped tooth is a common dental injury. In most cases, it doesn’t produce significant pain and can be successfully treated using a variety of dental procedures.

While it’s usually not considered a dental emergency, the sooner you get treatment, the better the chances of limiting any dental problems. Recovery is generally fast once the dental procedure is complete. Click to know more about cost of tooth crown in INDIA.

Symptoms of a chipped tooth

If the chip is minor and not at the front of your mouth, you may not know you have it at all. When you do have symptoms, however, they may include:

  • feeling a jagged surface when you run your tongue over your teeth
  • irritation of the gum around the chipped tooth.
  • irritation of your tongue from “catching” it on the tooth’s uneven and rough edge
  • pain from pressure on the tooth when biting, which can be intense if the chip is near to or exposes the nerves of the tooth

Diagnosing a chipped tooth

Your dentist can make a diagnosis of a chipped tooth via visible inspection of your mouth. They’ll also take into account your symptoms and ask you about events that may have caused the chipping.

Chipped tooth treatment options

Treatment of a chipped tooth generally depends on its location, severity, and symptoms. Unless it’s causing severe pain and significantly interfering with eating and sleeping, it’s not a medical emergency.

Still, you should make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible to avoid infection or further damage to the tooth. A minor chip can usually be treated by simply smoothing and polishing the tooth.

For more extensive chips your doctor may recommend the following:

Tooth reattachment

If you still have the tooth fragment that broke off, place it in a glass of milk to keep it moist. The calcium will help keep it alive. If you don’t have milk tuck it into your gum, making sure not to swallow it.

Then get to your dentist immediately. They may be able to cement the fragment back onto your tooth.

Bonding

A composite resin (plastic) material or porcelain (layers of ceramic) is cemented to the surface of your tooth and shaped to its form. Ultraviolet lights are used to harden and dry the material. After drying, more shaping is done until the material fits your tooth exactly.

Bonds can last up to 10 years.

Dental veneer

Before attaching a veneer, your dentist will smooth away some of the tooth’s enamel to make room for the veneer. Usually, they’ll shave away less than a millimeter.

Your dentist will make an impression of your tooth and send it to a lab to create the veneer. (A temporary veneer may be used in the meantime.) When the permanent veneer is ready, your dentist will bond it to your tooth.

Thanks to the durable materials, the veneer could last about 30 years.

Dental onlays

If the chip only affects a part of your tooth, your dentist may suggest a dental onlay, which is often applied to the surface of molars. (If damage to your tooth is significant, your dentist might recommend a full dental crown.) You may receive anesthesia so the dentist can work on your teeth to make sure there is room for an onlay.

In many cases, your doctor will take a mold of your tooth and send it to a dental lab to create the onlay. Once they have the onlay, they will fit it onto your tooth and then cemented it on.

With advances in technology, some dentists can mill porcelain onlays right in the office and place them that day.

Dental onlays can last for decades, but a lot depends on whether you eat a lot of foods that put wear and tear on the onlay and what tooth was affected. For example, one that gets a lot of pressure when you chew, such as a molar, will wear more easily.

Dental Treatment costs

Costs vary greatly by what part of the country you live in. Other factors are what tooth is involved, the extent of the chip, and whether the pulp of the tooth (where the nerves are) is affected. In general, though, here’s what you might expect to pay:

  • Tooth planing or smoothing. About INR3000.
  • Tooth reattachment. You’ll have to pay for the dental exam, which is usually between INR1500 to INR 25000. However, because tooth reattachment doesn’t require much in the way of materials, the charge should be minimal.
  • Bonding. INR1000 to INR 12,000, depending on the complexity involved.
  • Veneers or onlays. INR 6500 to INR 20,000, but this will depend on the material used and how much the tooth has to be prepared before affixing the veneer/crown.

Self-care for a chipped tooth

While you most likely will need a dentist to repair a chipped tooth, there are steps you can take to reduce injury to the tooth until you see your doctor.

  • Place temporary dental filling material, a teabag, sugar-free gum, or dental wax over the jagged edge of the tooth to protect your tongue and gums.
  • Take an anti-inflammatory painkiller such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) if you have pain.
  • Place ice on the outside of your cheek if the chipped tooth is causing irritation to the area.
  • Floss to remove food caught between your teeth, which can cause even more pressure on your chipped tooth when you chew.
  • Avoid chewing using the chipped tooth.
  • Swipe clove oil around any painful gums to numb the area.
  • Wear a protective mouth guard when you play sports or at night if you grind your teeth.

Complications of chipped teeth

When the chip is so extensive that it starts to affect the root of your tooth, infection can ensue. Treatment usually is a root canal. Here, some symptoms of such an infection:

  • pain when eating
  • sensitivity to hot and cold
  • fever
  • bad breath or sour taste in your mouth
  • swollen glands in your neck or jaw area

Outlook

A chipped tooth is a common dental injury. In most cases, it doesn’t produce significant pain and can be successfully treated using a variety of dental procedures.

While it’s usually not considered a dental emergency, the sooner you get treatment, the better the chances of limiting any dental problems. Recovery is generally fast once the dental procedure is complete. Click to know more about cost of tooth crown in INDIA.

Symptoms of a chipped tooth

If the chip is minor and not at the front of your mouth, you may not know you have it at all. When you do have symptoms, however, they may include:

  • feeling a jagged surface when you run your tongue over your teeth
  • irritation of the gum around the chipped tooth.
  • irritation of your tongue from “catching” it on the tooth’s uneven and rough edge
  • pain from pressure on the tooth when biting, which can be intense if the chip is near to or exposes the nerves of the tooth

Diagnosing a chipped tooth

Your dentist can make a diagnosis of a chipped tooth via visible inspection of your mouth. They’ll also take into account your symptoms and ask you about events that may have caused the chipping.

Chipped tooth treatment options

Treatment of a chipped tooth generally depends on its location, severity, and symptoms. Unless it’s causing severe pain and significantly interfering with eating and sleeping, it’s not a medical emergency.

Still, you should make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible to avoid infection or further damage to the tooth. A minor chip can usually be treated by simply smoothing and polishing the tooth.

For more extensive chips your doctor may recommend the following:

Tooth reattachment

If you still have the tooth fragment that broke off, place it in a glass of milk to keep it moist. The calcium will help keep it alive. If you don’t have milk tuck it into your gum, making sure not to swallow it.

Then get to your dentist immediately. They may be able to cement the fragment back onto your tooth.

Bonding

A composite resin (plastic) material or porcelain (layers of ceramic) is cemented to the surface of your tooth and shaped to its form. Ultraviolet lights are used to harden and dry the material. After drying, more shaping is done until the material fits your tooth exactly.

Bonds can last up to 10 years.

Dental veneer

Before attaching a veneer, your dentist will smooth away some of the tooth’s enamel to make room for the veneer. Usually, they’ll shave away less than a millimeter.

Your dentist will make an impression of your tooth and send it to a lab to create the veneer. (A temporary veneer may be used in the meantime.) When the permanent veneer is ready, your dentist will bond it to your tooth.

Thanks to the durable materials, the veneer could last about 30 years.

Dental onlays

If the chip only affects a part of your tooth, your dentist may suggest a dental onlay, which is often applied to the surface of molars. (If damage to your tooth is significant, your dentist might recommend a full dental crown.) You may receive anesthesia so the dentist can work on your teeth to make sure there is room for an onlay.

In many cases, your doctor will take a mold of your tooth and send it to a dental lab to create the onlay. Once they have the onlay, they will fit it onto your tooth and then cemented it on.

With advances in technology, some dentists can mill porcelain onlays right in the office and place them that day.

Dental onlays can last for decades, but a lot depends on whether you eat a lot of foods that put wear and tear on the onlay and what tooth was affected. For example, one that gets a lot of pressure when you chew, such as a molar, will wear more easily.

Dental Treatment costs

Costs vary greatly by what part of the country you live in. Other factors are what tooth is involved, the extent of the chip, and whether the pulp of the tooth (where the nerves are) is affected. In general, though, here’s what you might expect to pay:

  • Tooth planing or smoothing. About INR3000.
  • Tooth reattachment. You’ll have to pay for the dental exam, which is usually between INR1500 to INR 25000. However, because tooth reattachment doesn’t require much in the way of materials, the charge should be minimal.
  • Bonding. INR1000 to INR 12,000, depending on the complexity involved.
  • Veneers or onlays. INR 6500 to INR 20,000, but this will depend on the material used and how much the tooth has to be prepared before affixing the veneer/crown.

Self-care for a chipped tooth

While you most likely will need a dentist to repair a chipped tooth, there are steps you can take to reduce injury to the tooth until you see your doctor.

  • Place temporary dental filling material, a teabag, sugar-free gum, or dental wax over the jagged edge of the tooth to protect your tongue and gums.
  • Take an anti-inflammatory painkiller such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) if you have pain.
  • Place ice on the outside of your cheek if the chipped tooth is causing irritation to the area.
  • Floss to remove food caught between your teeth, which can cause even more pressure on your chipped tooth when you chew.
  • Avoid chewing using the chipped tooth.
  • Swipe clove oil around any painful gums to numb the area.
  • Wear a protective mouth guard when you play sports or at night if you grind your teeth.

Complications of chipped teeth

When the chip is so extensive that it starts to affect the root of your tooth, infection can ensue. Treatment usually is a root canal. Here, some symptoms of such an infection:

  • pain when eating
  • sensitivity to hot and cold
  • fever
  • bad breath or sour taste in your mouth
  • swollen glands in your neck or jaw area