Procedures For Repairing Chipped Teeth
Patients with chipped teeth could have to go through any of several different repair procedures depending on how much of their tooth or teeth they have lost. Teeth can become chipped during participation in athletic activities or because of a fall. They can become damaged when patients bite down on a very hard material or when teeth have previously become weakened because of a cavity.
While experiencing a chipped tooth can be alarming, it's important to remain calm and administer proper care to minimize the damage and discomfort that results.
Steps for responding to a chipped tooth
Immediately after a tooth has been broken or chipped, patients should keep any resulting wounds in their mouth clean and disinfected. Rinsing the mouth with salt water is a good idea. Pain killers like acetaminophen can be used to minimize discomfort.
Often, it is necessary to cushion a chipped tooth with dental wax if its jagged edge cuts into the cheek, lip, or tongue. Patients might have to avoid hard foods or chewing on the side of the mouth with the
If a chip is very small, it's sometimes possible to repair it by simply smoothing away any jagged edge so that the chipped tooth does not cause discomfort. Sometimes, the only hazard created by a chip is a sharp edge on a tooth that must be
Bonding
For a slightly larger chip, bonding may be able to take care of the damage. This procedure involves smoothing away the chipped area with a bonding material created from tooth-colored resin that is applied to the tooth and left to harden.
Filling
Chipped teeth are sometimes repaired in much the same way that teeth with cavities are repaired. A chipped tooth in the back of the mouth can be repaired with a filling if only a small portion of the enamel has broken away.
Veneers
More extensive damage is often repaired with veneers. Veneers are typically made from porcelain. They can be placed over the surface of the tooth to cover up imperfections. Porcelain veneers are typically used on the front teeth, where appearance is important.
Tooth extraction
If a tooth is severely chipped, it may no longer function in the mouth. In this case, it will need to be extracted and replaced with an implant or a bridge. A root canal is sometimes necessary in severely chipped teeth where the dental pulp has been left exposed and has become infected. To learn more about dental care, visit a website like http://www.neufamilydental.com.
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