24 Feb Saving a Chipped Tooth (or One That Has Fallen Out)
Having a chipped tooth, or losing a tooth, can be very distressing. Chipped teeth can have a negative effect on the appearance of your smile, while tooth loss can affect everything from your diet, speech, and general oral function. If you should experience either of these, you’ll need to know what to do to have the best chance to save the tooth.
Chipped Tooth
If you or a loved one should experience a chipped tooth, contact us as soon as possible. Even though the chip may appear superficial, the tooth could actually be cracked, potentially leading to a painful infection if left undetected and untreated.
Until you can visit the dentist, try the following:
- Minimize pain by taking an over-the-counter pain reliever.
- To reduce the chance of infection, rinse your mouth using salt water.
- Avoid biting down on the damaged tooth; eat softer foods.
- If the damaged tooth has a jagged edge, cover it using candle wax or chewing gum to protect your tongue and inner cheek until you can see a dentist.
Repairing a Chipped Tooth
Here are some ways that we can treat a chipped tooth:
Bonding or Filling
If the chip is only minor, your dentist can likely repair it using a filling. Front-facing teeth are normally repaired using a composite resin that matches the color of surrounding teeth.
Dental Veneers
Your dentist can repair a chipped or broken front tooth with a dental veneer. Veneers are thin shells of material made of composite or porcelain.
To receive a veneer, your dentist would first etch the tooth’s surface with a liquid or gel. They would then apply an adhesive and resin. Finally, your dentist would shape the resin so that it looks like your natural tooth, hardening it using a UV light.
Dental Crown
If you have lost too much tooth structure for a filling, your dentist may place a crown over the tooth to protect it and preserve its function, as well as its cosmetic appearance.
If the tooth was severely damaged, and the dental pulp is exposed, your dentist may need to perform root canal therapy to save the tooth.
Missing Tooth
Another emergency situation is having a tooth gets knocked out. Time is of the essence here; so contact your dentist or emergency dentist as soon as possible to give you or your loved one the best chance of saving the tooth.
Until you can see the dentist, grasp the tooth, but never by its root. If the tooth has any attached debris, carefully rinse it without scrubbing it. If you are able, replace the tooth into its socket without forcing it. Alternately, place the tooth in a sealed container, completely submerging it in milk or a saltwater solution.
Contact us for an emergency appointment as soon as possible, as a knocked-out tooth can usually be replaced if completed within an hour or so. We will attempt reinsertion of the tooth. If the tooth experienced nerve damage, it may require endodontic treatment to save it.