If you’ve been in an accident–be it from falling off a bike, in a car, or playing sports–you are likely to realize if one or more of your teeth have been chipped or cracked.

But some cracks can be so slight that they are invisible if you look in the mirror. They may reveal themselves by causing your teeth to be sensitive, especially when you eat or drink something hot or cold, chew something sticky or hard, or just brush your teeth, in which case a full dental exam needs to be done to determine the exact cause.

Periodontal infection

Small cracks or chipping can occur even from the impact of cavities, grinding your teeth while you sleep (known as bruxism), or a misaligned bite that causes teeth to damage each other. A periodontal infection can result in gums pulling away their support of your teeth and even get into your jawbone, affecting your bite. The first indicator something is seriously wrong will probably be pain when you bite down in one area. 

In mild cases of cracking or chipping, you can just set an appointment as soon  as possible with Dr. Gruita. Meantime, you should avoid chewing in that area, put Dentemp (available at any drugstore) on it, and manage the pain with an OTC option.

If the tooth is fractured or severely chipped, you should have it initially treated at an urgent care clinic before coming into Pro Health Dental. We will then create a temporary dental crown for protection and have our dental lab craft the permanent one (in the most serious cases, a tooth may need to be extracted and replaced by an implant or if the root is infected, a root canal procedure will be done). 

Minor chipping or cracking will generally be treated by placing a porcelain dental veneer over the front of the affected teeth to both protect it and restore your smile (with the same shade as the neighboring teeth that are still healthy). Veneers, with proper care, can last 10-15 years or more.

Dental Bonding

Another option, if the chip or crack is small, is dental bonding, a composite resin that can be matched to the color of your teeth and applied quickly (it is inexpensive and does not require removing any enamel, which veneers do).