Serving patients of Erwin, Jonesborough, and Greeneville TN
Do you have a chipped tooth? Not only can a chipped tooth be an eyesore that genuinely affects the way you feel about your smile, but it also can cause physical pain. Even if it’s not causing problems now, failing to seek treatment may cause other dental problems—up to and including removal of the tooth if not treated appropriately. At Tusculum Dental Care, we find that many of our patients may not know the dangers of living with a chipped tooth. That’s why our dedicated staff wants you to know about your two best options if you have a chipped tooth in Greeneville.
How can you avoid a chipped tooth?
Generally speaking, prevention to avoid a problem is the best course of action. This logic applies to dental injuries such as a chipped tooth as well. Whether you have a chipped tooth or you are concerned about a loved one suffering from chipping a tooth, we have a couple of quick tips for you.
These include:
- Refrain from opening packages with your teeth or use your teeth as tools
- Wearing a sports guard anytime you participate in a contact sport
- Avoiding hard candies
- Refrain from chewing on ice or using your teeth as tools
- Seeking treatment for your bruxism if you are grinding your teeth
What should I do if I chip my tooth?
Accidents happen. You can do everything right and still end up with a chipped tooth. You must proceed in a calm and orderly fashion to keep this tooth safe from further damage, though. Here are our steps to caring for your chipped tooth:
Call us immediately and schedule the soonest appointment you can to have your tooth fixed. When you call, ask what kind of over-the-counter pain medicine is best for your situation. Not all pain relievers are great for tooth pain.
In the interim, avoid hot or cold foods. Rinse out your mouth out warm water regularly and apply a cold compress on your mouth to bring down swelling, if there is any swelling. Cover the tooth with dental wax. If that’s not an available option, use sugarless gum to cover your chipped tooth. Eat soft foods as much as possible. Avoid chewing or biting with the chipped tooth.
How we can treat a chipped tooth
Dental bonding is a restorative treatment that entails applying a special resin to the surface of the chipped tooth. Once applied and sculpted into place, it restores the shape of your tooth, also preventing bacteria from entering the interior of your tooth structure, which is known as the dental pulp. Undergoing a bonding treatment will restore the appearance of your youth and keep it safe from further harm.
Bonded permanently to the front of the affected tooth, porcelain veneers restore the shape and function of the chipped tooth. Because a veneer is affixed to the tooth, it can be a permanent solution provided you maintain a regimen of good dental care. We use dental porcelain to fabricate our veneers; this material is durable, resists surface stains and possesses a similar translucency to natural tooth enamel.
Sometimes a chip can be significant enough to compromise the structural integrity of a tooth. Dental crowns replace the entire exterior of a tooth, restoring the chipped tooth to full use. Made of the same dental porcelain we use in our veneers procedures, our crowns are durable and beautiful dental restorations that will last for years to come.
Repairing chipped teeth in Greeneville, Jonesborough and Erwin in Tennessee
Don’t let your chipped tooth deteriorate or cause major oral health issues. Instead, trust the dentists at Tusculum Dental Care to repair the damage. Make an appointment today by calling (423) 639-7575 or completing our online contact form.