What should I do if I have a chipped tooth?
What should I do if I have a chipped tooth?
The enamel on your teeth is the hardest and most highly mineralized substance in your body. It covers the outer layer of each tooth and it is the most visible part of the tooth. Despite its strength, teeth can break or chip from abnormal wear and tear or a traumatic injury.
Enamel plays a very important role in protecting your teeth from decay, so it is important to do everything that you can to prevent your enamel from eroding.
Chips, cracks or breaks that have been caused from a knock to the mouth or trauma should be examined by a dentist as soon as possible to check for trauma to surrounding teeth, lips and cheeks. At Dentists on the Gold Coast we understand that life happens, that is why we offer Emergency appointments daily.
If you have chipped a tooth in any other way, you should make an appointment with a dentist fairly quickly (within a few days) so that the underlying cause is treated right away. Left untreated, the chipped tooth may break further, cause sensitivity and/or pain or increase the risk of dental caries and allow bacteria into the nerve chamber of the tooth.
Common reasons for why we chipped or broken teeth:
Frequently Asked Questions
What will I feel if my tooth has cracked?
The symptoms of a cracked or broken tooth can vary patient to patient and the size and position of the crack can play a large role in determining these symptoms. Common symptoms include:
- Sensitivity to hot and cold drinks or food,
- Pain when biting into food,
- An odd sensation when having sticky, sweet or sour foods
- Feeling a sharp edge to the remainder of the tooth with your tongue or finger
How do you fix a broken or chipped tooth?
Treatments vary dependent on the size of the chip or fracture, the health or state of the remaining tooth structure and the patient’s functional and aesthetic needs and budget.
Small chips to the enamel surface can sometimes be simply buffed to smooth the irritating and rough edge.
Larger breaks, or those that are highly visible in the front teeth, can be repaired using modern bonding techniques with tooth-coloured fillings or porcelain crowns. With precise colour matching, chipped teeth are restored to their former selves and most patients can’t tell the difference!
How much will it cost?
Our dental examinations cost $50.
Without seeing the chip or break, it is very hard to determine the options available to you, to treat the problem. After a dental examination our team will be able to give you a detailed quote which you can decide to go ahead with on the day, or schedule another time more suitable.
Do you have payment plans?
We sure do.
To book your appointment, please call us on 55312053 or book online via our website.