A chipped tooth is a very common occurrence. It can happen from playing sports, a car or bike accident, a fall, a blow to the face, chewing on a pen, pulling off clothes with teeth, munching on ice, eating hard nuts or candy, chewing on bones or hard bread, eating corn on the cob or unpopped popcorn kernels, or fruits and vegetables with pits.
If it happens during our office hours (Mon.-Fri. 9 am-6 pm), call for an emergency appointment, otherwise evaluate how urgent it is and, if necessary, go to the nearest urgent care clinic for help.
But not all experiences with chipped or cracked teeth should be treated the same. A hairline crack or minor chipping that does not appear to split the enamel can wait for the dentist to examine it, while a fracture would need a dental crown to hold it together. Sometimes these can occur from wear and tear, grinding teeth at night, or a misaligned bite. You may be able to tell the extent of the injury if you bite down gently and feel more pain or have more sensitivity to cold or hot liquids or foods.
If the chipping is significant and there is bleeding, put a cold pack on and off the outside of the face near the injury every 15 minutes for a couple of hours to prevent swelling. Rinse your mouth with salt water to reduce the risk of infection. Most drug stores carry Dentemp or a similar product to treat a chipped tooth temporarily. You can manage the pain with ibuprofen or aspirin (or even the traditional numbing agent clove oil). Avoid biting down on that tooth until treatment.
When you are able to come in, we will determine the depth of the chip or crack by close examination, but also through a digital x-ray (which involves minimal radiation). In cases of minor chipping, the remedy will probably be to simply put a dental veneer on the front to cover the damage, both to keep it protected and restore your smile to normal.
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