Do you have a broken, chipped or sharp tooth?
Have you noticed a crack, or a piece that has chipped off your tooth? Don’t be alarmed! We explain why it has happened and how to fix it.
One day you might run your tongue over your teeth and notice a crack, or a piece that has chipped off your tooth. Don’t be alarmed! It is a very common oral injury. Even so, we recommend visiting your trusted dentist, as it can lead to oral health problems.
How can you tell if your tooth is chipped?
Your tooth may be fractured or cracked if:
- You feel something rough on the tooth when you run your tongue or finger over it.
- You notice something rubbing against the soft tissues of your mouth.
- You can see small lines or cracks in the enamel. These would be dental cracks.
- You notice increased sensitivity, discomfort and pain when eating.
Why has my tooth chipped?
There can be many reasons, but here are the most common ones:
- Chewing very hard foods
- Using your teeth or dentures as a tool, for example as a tin opener.
- Having tooth decay that has not been treated in good time. A cavity is a hole, and the teeth striking each other together with the cavity can cause this break.
- Having bruxism: this is the unconscious contraction of the chewing muscles, in other words clenching or grinding your teeth. This can weaken the enamel and cause teeth to break.
- Acid reflux.
- Ageing teeth: teeth age and wear down over time, which makes them more prone to injury.
Is my tooth broken or just chipped?
It is difficult to see with the naked eye what type of injury a tooth has. Even so, if the tooth is broken, it will most likely have lost a part or piece of it. On the other hand, if the tooth were chipped, it would have a crack which, over time, would end up turning into a break in the tooth.
How are chipped or flaked teeth treated?
Once part of the tooth enamel has been lost, it does not grow back naturally. That is why you need to visit a dental specialist to repair this injury.
Every case is different, which is why at Oralitá we offer different solutions for teeth that have fractured or broken. So, depending on the condition of the damaged tooth, we will choose one treatment or another, always assessing each patient’s individual case.
- Dental enamel: the aim of this treatment is to rebuild the tooth with a resin, restoring both its appearance and its function. This option is perfect for mild cases of chipping.
- Dental veneers or crowns: at Oralitá we have CEREC technology, which allows us to offer treatments such as veneers in a single day. Veneers help us change the shape, colour and size of the tooth. If you would like to find out more about this cosmetic treatment, click on the following article: Smile design: dental veneers.
- Inlay: an inlay is needed when a large part of the tooth has been lost, and this usually happens on the surface of the molars. The procedure involves making a dental mould and then fitting it into the tooth.
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