The Risks of Chipped Teeth: Why It Should Be Taken Seriously
Accidents can happen while at home, on the job, or when you're out and about. Sometimes these accidents result in damage to the teeth. Preventive care is always an ideal policy since damage to the teeth can lead to a number of dental problems.
The team at our Long Island, NY dental care center would like to consider the health risks associated with a chipped tooth. We'll then briefly note some treatments for these issues should they arise.
Aesthetic Flaws
Aesthetic flaws are one of the low-end risks of chipped teeth, all things considered. A chipped tooth can make you feel self-conscious about your smile, leaving you hesitant to laugh, smile, and speak around others, even around loved ones. For people who work in professions that involve a lot of public interaction, a chipped tooth can lead to problems with job performance.
Weakened Tooth Structure
When a tooth is chipped or cracked in some way, the overall structure of the tooth is compromised. This makes the tooth weaker overall, and more likely to experience further damage as a result. Tooth decay and acidic erosion can occur and spread faster because part of the tooth's structure has been breached. It's a case of a bad situation potentially getting worse.
Tooth Sensitivity
A chipped tooth means that the inner structure of the tooth are more exposed, such as the porous dentin layer of a tooth or the dental pulp located inside of the tooth. This causes tooth sensitivity, most notably when biting or chewing certain foods, or when having foods or beverages that are hot/cold in temperature.
Dental Pain
In addition to tooth sensitivity, having a severe chip or crack on your tooth can hurt. This dental pain tends to be more severe when the tooth chip is more severe. The pain may be acute when biting or chewing, or when having hot/cold food items. Sometimes simply having crunchy or hard foods can result in dental pain given the pressure exerted on the tooth necessary to bite/chew.
Root Canal Infection
When oral bacteria is able to reach the pulp inside of a tooth, this can lead to a painful infection of the tooth itself. This is known as a root canal infection. When a root canal infection occurs, this results in serious pain and discomfort. Left untreated, the root canal infection can result in the spread of infection to other parts of the mouth, and the formation of an oral abscesses.
Treating Chipped Teeth
When a tooth is chipped or cracked, there are a few different options for treatment to consider:
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Cosmetic Treatments – For minor chips that are cosmetic, dental bonding or a porcelain veneer is ideal. These will mask the cosmetic flaws from view.
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Restorative Treatments – When the chip impacts the overall structure of a tooth, dental restorations such as fillings, inlays, onlays, or crowns tend to be the best option.
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Advanced Procedures – For root canal infections, endodontic therapy can help control the inflammation and save the tooth from extraction. More serious chips may necessitate the extraction of the damaged tooth.
During a consultation, we can determine the ideal option for your needs.
Learn More About Your Dental Health
For more information about treating damaged teeth and improving the health of your smile, be sure to contact an experienced cosmetic and restorative dentist. The team at Garden City Smiles is here to help you experience the many benefits of great dental health.