A cracked tooth can be intimidating, causing it to chafe off the surrounding oral tissue while chewing food or talking. Most people with this issue hesitate to express themselves and may become too conscious while smiling. But worry not—there are many ways to fix a chipped tooth! Read this blog until the end to learn about teeth restoration and embark on a fuller smile you never expected!
What to Do After You Chip a Tooth?
A chipped tooth is often risky and can erode the enamel, exposing it to potential infections. Moreover, when such an issue is left untreated, it can invade deeper dental tissues and result in costlier treatments in the long run, like a root canal or a complete tooth extraction. While many treatment options are available for fixing a chipped tooth, the most reliable one is a dental crown or bonding. However, if you do not find a dentist to receive immediate treatment, adopt the following steps to ensure oral care.
Rinsing the mouth with a lukewarm saline solution
Salt water helps to remove germs and cleanse your mouth thoroughly. This process becomes more effective when the water is sufficiently warm. Sometimes, an accidental fall may result in a chipped tooth and swelling. In such cases, too, gurgling with a warm saline solution gives relief.
Applying dental wax
If a small portion of your tooth is broken, a roughened edge develops over that chipped-off area. This often hurts the tongue and may cause abrasions in the mouth. Dental wax may protect the mouth cavity from unwanted injuries and subsequent microbial infections during such cases. However, if you cannot access dental wax, take a small amount of chewing gum and attach it to that chipped area. Also, make sure that the chewing gum is free from sugars.
Not chewing from the side of the chipped tooth
A chipped tooth tends to break more than a healthy, unaffected tooth. Thus, it is better not to chew food near that site. Consider eating soft and gullible foods such as eggs, avocados, boiled vegetables, smoothies, etc.
How much time it takes to fix a chipped tooth?
This depends on the severity of the damage incurred and the type of tooth broken. Generally, during a dentist visit, the doctor assesses the intensity of the chipped tooth and then makes a catered treatment plan for fixing it. Also, they will discuss the appropriate dental procedure that suits you best and makes you comfortable. Here’s a list of common dental treatment procedures to fix a broken tooth.
Dental bonding
It is suitable for repairing a minor chipping of the tooth. Generally, when a person smiles through slight damage, the dentist applies an enamel-coloured composite resin in that affected region to fill in the exposed area. After the procedure, an activated light is projected into the tooth, and then reshaping and polishing are done to give the tooth a natural feeling that merges with the original contour. Dental bonding prevents future infections from progressing through that gap and typically takes about 30 to 60 minutes. However, if you are still determining how long does it take to fix a chipped tooth, try to consult a certified dentist as soon as possible.
Dental veneers
These can restore tooth appearance if a front tooth has been mildly chipped but is still functionally healthy. A dental veneer is custom-made and covers the entire frontal part of the tooth. This procedure restores a chipped tooth within two rounds of dental visits. During the procedure, the dentist will shave off a layer of enamel from the affected tooth to prepare it for a dental veneer. Several impressions of your chipped tooth will be taken to prepare a mould for an off-site dental laboratory to process the veneer. After the arrival of the dental veneer, the doctor will put that over the chipped tooth and ensure that it fits properly. After that, he will cement that off to keep it in its place.
Root canal therapy
Also known as RCT, it is performed when the injury is large enough to create a sharp-edged chip in your tooth, exposing the pulp to microbial infections. In worst cases, the tooth may get permanently damaged when the infection has spread to the inner pulp layer and is not treated on time. In such cases, a tooth extraction is needed. The infected pulp is extracted by suction force during a root canal treatment and cleaned thoroughly. A medicated solution is poured within that void and then sealed off with a latex substance. Generally, the procedure takes about one and a half hours to three hours. However, in some scenarios, more than sitting may be needed. Often, an RCT is completed with the installation of a dental crown.
Dental crowns
The dentist arranges a reshaping procedure when a substantial part of your tooth chips. It is then covered with a dental crown to protect the region from further infections and improve the aesthetic look. Dental crowns are usually made of metallic alloys, ceramics, gold alloys or porcelain-based material.
Opting for a dental crown involves two successive dental appointments: one to assess the affected tooth and then to implement X-rays to check the root health and surrounding bony structures. This helps to eliminate the chances of root infection and tissue decay, and it also shapes the tooth to prepare it for dental crown installation.
The dentist may take dental impressions before ordering the crown from a dental lab. For the time being, the dentist will put a temporary crown. The permanent dental crown will be successfully placed on the day of the second appointment slot. Moreover, in some dental clinics, same-day dental crowns are facilitated using the CEREC procedure (Chair-side economic restoration of aesthetic ceramic). In this process, sophisticated scanners and cameras are implemented to take 3-D impressions of the damaged tooth, ultimately helping to obtain a fully personalised dental crown on-site. This takes less than 15 minutes to complete. Can you guess the best part? These do not elicit an allergic response upon installation and can ensure maximum safety, with minimal chances of damaging the gum line.
Conclusion
Several dental clinics in London offer customised solutions for fixing a chipped tooth. So, if you have been facing such an issue for a long time, do not shy away. Instead, visit www.emergencydentist.london to book an urgent appointment and regain your healthy smile!
