What To Do With Chipped or Broken Teeth

chipped or broken tooth in EdmontonChipped teeth are very common. In some cases, the damage is only cosmetic, but often the chipped tooth should be repaired right away; otherwise you risk further damage or infection, which could end up costing you your whole tooth if it’s not repaired.

That’s where LRM Dental & Associates come in.  We can repair your chipped tooth in by providing fillings or crowns, or, if the tooth is cracked or broken, the dentists can replace it with a bridge, partial denture or dental implant. We’re even set up for emergency dental work to take care of your chipped tooth quickly, before it can cause more problems.

Contrary to what you might think, chipped teeth are most common in children and young, active adults. There are many ways that you might chip your tooth. This can be caused by:

  • A slip or fall;
  • A car or bike accident;
  • A sports injury;
  • Eating something hard like a seed, grain or even a hard candy; or
  • Grinding your teeth

If you have a chipped tooth, correcting the problem is easy and painless. LRM Dental & Associates can provide crowns or fillings, or if the crack or break is severe, patients can get dental implants, which are a great way to get your smile back. And because we’re set up to provide emergency dental care, you won’t have to wait very long to get your chipped tooth fixed.

If you have chipped your tooth, here are some steps you can take prior to your visit:

  • If you’re in pain, an over-the-counter pain reliever should be strong enough to help make sure you’re comfortable prior to your appointment.  Just be sure to tell your dentist if you have taken any medication.
  • If the tooth is now sharp or jagged, you’ll probably want to cover it with wax paraffin or even chewing gum (preferably sugar-free), so that you don’t cut your tongue or the inside of your cheek.
  • Finally, if you must eat before you have time to come see us, make sure to only eat soft foods that won’t cause further damage.

Most importantly, as soon as you notice a problem with your teeth, get in touch with us right away so that we can fix your chipped tooth. You might not think of a chipped tooth as an emergency, but your dentist does, and that’s why we provide emergency treatment to repair the damage.

Depending on the severity of the damage and the location, we have different options: fillings, crowns, veneers, bridges, partial dentures or dental implants to repair your tooth. For a shallow or surface chip, a simple filling is often enough. If the chip is visible, on one of your front teeth for instance, we can use bonding to repair the damage and restore your beautiful smile. For more serious chips, a cap or crown may be needed, or even a root canal.

Serious damage from a chipped tooth isn’t common, unless you don’t take care of the problem right away. That’s why you should contact us immediately if you chip a tooth.  We’re set up to handle emergency appointments in exactly this type of situation. LRM Dental & Associates will help you right away by providing the right dental care. Fillings, crowns, bridges, partial dentures and implants can be used to fix your chipped or broken tooth permanently, before any more damage can be done.