Our teeth are protected by a hard coating known as enamel. Enamel is made of minerals like calcium and phosphate and is one of the hardest substances in our body. But due to some medical conditions and environmental factors, our enamel can erode and cause the teeth to chip at the edges or break in half.
Teeth chipping is one of the most common dental emergencies that dentists deal with. Due to facial traumas and accidents like tripping, falling, getting hit by something hard on your face, your teeth can chip, crack or break in half upon impact.
Your teeth are more likely to chip if due to malnutrition and poor oral hygiene, the enamel on your teeth has eroded, and your teeth are decaying.
Some people have a habit of grinding their teeth while thinking or sleeping. The constant grinding action chips the teeth at the edges. An intraoral camera can be used to detect any damage to the tooth that isn't visible to the naked eye. Even though the enamel cannot be restored, dentists may recommend the following treatment procedures to fix your chipped teeth. In case your chipped or broken tooth has suffered severe damage, your dentist may also recommend some tooth replacement options.
A minor case of tooth chipping can be treated through dental bonding and fillings. A composite mixture is prepared by mixing resin with adhesive bonds. It has the same color and texture as your chipped or broken tooth. The dentist will first scale the rough edge of your chipped tooth and then apply the mixture on your tooth to give it a protective covering and make it appear as a full tooth.
When the composite resin bonding gets dry, the dentist may scale it again to shape the hard coating. Holes and cracks in your tooth are also filled by the same resin composite mixture to protect your teeth from infections and decay.
If the top of your tooth has chipped or broken off, your dentist will fix a dental crown or cap on top of it. A dental crown or cap is a custom-made protective cap that matches the color, size, and shape of your chipped tooth and is fixed on top of it to make it appear like a whole tooth. Dental crowns are fixed on top of your teeth with the help of dental adhesives and should not be removed while eating, brushing, or sleeping. Dental crowns prevent your chipped teeth from further damage and decay.
Dental veneers work best if you have broken or chipped any of your front teeth. They help to restore your smile. Dental veneers are thin shells that are made from porcelain or resin composite materials to match the appearance of your teeth. They are permanently attached to your teeth with the help of dental adhesives.
Typically, dental veneers can last anywhere between four to 10 years, depending on the material and quality of the adhesive used. Porcelain veneers last longer than resin veneers.
Mouth guards are protective gear worn on teeth to prevent your teeth from chipping. Mouth guards are worn by players during sports to protect teeth from injuries and fractures. Hard shots from items like a football can cause our teeth to break or chip upon impact, but if players wear a mouth guard, the teeth receive a cushioning and are saved from injury.
Moreover, people who have the habit of grinding their teeth in sleep are instructed to wear a mouth guard at night.
In case quite a few of your teeth have cracked or broken off because of facial trauma, your dentist may suggest getting partial dentures. Partial dentures are custom-made and are worn to replace the missing teeth. Partial dentures are removable and can be removed before going to bed. However, partial dentures must be cleaned thoroughly to avoid oral infections and diseases.
If you or your child have chipped or broken teeth, visit us at Mid Valley Dental. Our dedicated team of licensed dentists includes Michael J. Wockenfus, DDS and Dr. Wockenfus. They will suggest the best treatment options for fixing your chipped or broken teeth. So, call us today at (920) 215-4160 to book your appointment. Check out what services we have to offer for pediatric dentistry.