Learn More About Chipped or Cracked Tooth

Cracked teeth often require emergency treatment from your dentist. But in the meantime, you can place an ice pack on the side of your cheek where your chipped teeth are to prevent swelling. You can also rinse your mouth with warm salt water to reduce bacteria and inflammation. These should provide temporary relief before you go to your dental appointment.

While a minor fracture may not seem like a big deal, a chipped tooth will not restore itself and requires dental restoration to prevent further damage.

A cracked tooth doesn’t always cause symptoms or visible damage. But you may notice increased tooth sensitivity when your teeth are exposed to changing temperatures or when you’re eating cold and hot foods or drinks. At the same time, you may have a toothache, and your gums around the affected tooth may have swelling.

Your emergency dentist at Mary River Dental will promptly evaluate your broken tooth. They will provide a treatment that depends on the severity of the damage. These are the common treatment options:

• Dental fillings.
  If you have a tiny-hairlike crack in your tooth, fillings may be enough to cover the damage and prevent deep chipping.
  
  
• Dental veneers.
  Your dentist may recommend veneers if you have sustained moderate to severe cracks in your teeth. They are very thin shells bonded on the tooth’s front surface to prevent further damage and restore your smile.
  
  
• Crowns.
  It is a tooth-shaped cap that can cover the entire broken tooth and strengthen it.
  
  
• Root canal therapy. This procedure can be suitable if the fracture extends to the dental pulp (inner layers). The dentist removes the damaged tissue, cleans and disinfects the inside of the tooth, then fills and seals it. It can help save your tooth and prevent further damage.

The duration of restoring a chipped tooth depends on the type of treatment you may undergo and how much damage your tooth has sustained. In most cases, treatment time may range from thirty to sixty minutes.

A quick trip to the dentist isn’t always necessary when it comes to minor tooth breakage or chips. These types of damage usually don’t pose an immediate threat to your dental health. However, intense pain while chewing, an unbearable toothache, heightened tooth sensitivity, and swelling around the damaged tooth may indicate that there’s a significant fracture that goes beyond the tooth surface. It could potentially compromise the tooth pulp, and emergency dental care is more likely necessary.

We recommend that you schedule a regular dental appointment at Mary River Dental to have your dentist check your tooth.