When you suffer a chip on one of your teeth, it can lead to several different symptoms and complications. Minor chips might not cause any discomfort or sensitivity. Yet a more significant chip or dental fracture can cause significant distress when consuming hot, cold, sweet, or acidic things.
Even if the damaged tooth doesn’t cause any immediate symptoms of discomfort, you should still have it examined and treated by one of the dentists at Pine Ridge Dental. Over time minute food particles and food deposits can build up in the compromised tooth enamel. This could encourage a severe cavity to develop in the tooth.
If the chip is small and the biting surface isn’t significantly compromised, Dr. Tom Tetrick might be able to treat the tooth with an amalgam or composite dental filling. This often calls for removing a small amount of additional tooth enamel before applying a composite resin or amalgam dental filling.
A more significant chip or a dental fracture that affects the biting surface of a molar or premolar might require Dr. Tom Tetrick to restore the tooth with a dental crown. This will fully replace the entire tooth enamel layer with an alternate dental material.
If your chipped tooth was caused by grinding your teeth at while sleeping, you might want to try wearing a dental guard in your mouth when you go to bed. If it was caused by a bad habit like chewing on desktop items, biting your fingernails, or using your teeth to open a package, you might want to make minor lifestyle changes.
If you live in the Lincoln, Nebraska, area and you’ve recently suffered a chipped tooth you should call 402-423-1100 to seek treatment at Pine Ridge Dental.
