What Is A Chipped Tooth? A chipped tooth is when a piece of a person’s tooth breaks or chips off when they chew on something hard like ice or candy. The tooth may also chip off if it is already weakened by carious lesion formation. Enamel is one of the strongest hard tissues of our teeth, but everything has its limit. If excessive force is applied or increased wear and tear can cause the tooth to chip. As a result, the tooth has a jagged appearance that is sharp and disfiguring. Causes Of A Chipped Tooth There are a number of reasons why a tooth can chip. Following are just some of the reasons: · Chewing on hard substances like ice or candy · Bruxism, which is grinding one’s teeth during their sleep · During contact sports like boxing, using a mouthguard · By physical injuries like falling off the stairs · During car accidents and fights · Dental caries is also a cause of chipped teeth as they weaken the tooth · Poor oral hygiene also contributes due to enamel damage or thinning Symptoms Of A Chipped Tooth Sometimes a chip may occur at the posterior, which the person is most likely not to notice. When symptoms do occur, they include the following: · The feeling of a jagged surface when we run our tongue over the surface of the tooth · There is an irritation present around the gums of the chipped or fractured tooth · Irritation of the tongue when it comes in contact with the roughened or uneven edge · Pain from pressure on the chipped tooth when biting, which can be intense if the chip is near to or exposes the nerves present in the pulp of the tooth Treatment Options For A Chipped Tooth The treatment of a chipped tooth completely depends on the tooth's location, the severity, and its symptoms. Unless the chipped tooth is causing severe pain and is interfering with the person's eating and sleeping times, it is not considered a dental emergency. But it is wise that the person should get a dentist’s appointment at the earliest to avoid any further infection or damage to the already affected tooth. If the chip in the tooth is minor, it can be treated by smoothing and polishing the tooth. When the chipped-off tooth is severe, it can be treated in several ways. Some of them are as follows: 1. Tooth Reattachment After the tooth fragment breaks off, you can place it in a cup of milk to keep it moist. The calcium that is present in it keeps it alive and well. The person can also tuck it in their gum and make sure that they do not swallow it. You can then take the chipped tooth to the dentist, who will be able to cement the broken fragment back to its original place. 2. Bonding A composite resin-like material or porcelain (layers of ceramic) is cemented to the surface of the tooth and shaped to the desired form. Ultraviolet rays are used to harden and dry the material. After drying, more shaping is done until the material fits the patient’s tooth exactly. This bonding can last up to 10 years. 3. Dental Veneers Before attaching a veneer, the dentist will smooth away some of the tooth’s enamel to make room for the veneer. Usually, the dental professional shaves away less than a millimeter. The dentist will then make an impression of the patient's tooth and send it to a lab to create the veneer. A temporary or immediate veneer may be used before the permanent veneer is available. When the permanent veneer is ready, the dentist will bond it to the tooth. The veneer can last about 30 years. 4. Dental Onlays If the chip only affects a part of the tooth, the dentist suggests a dental onlay, which is often applied to the surface of molars. If damage to the tooth is significant, the dentist might recommend a full dental crown. The patient may receive anesthesia so the dentist can work on the affected tooth to make sure there is room for an onlay. In many cases, the dentist will take a mold of the affected tooth and send it to a dental lab to create the onlay. Once the onlay is prepared, they will fit it onto the tooth and then cement it on. Dental onlays can last for decades, but a lot depends on whether the person eats a lot of foods that put wear and tear on the onlay and what tooth was affected. For example, one that gets a lot of pressure when they chew, such as a molar, will wear more easily. To Sum Up Tooth chipping is when a part or a fragment of the tooth breaks off when a person bites on a hard substance. This mostly happens when a person chews on ice or hard candy, due to physical injuries like falls, car accidents, and when a tooth is already damaged due to dental caries development. The chipped tooth has a jagged appearance and has a roughened surface. The treatment options available for chipped teeth are tooth reattachment, dental veneers, dental onlays, and dental crowns. FAQs Q1. Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency? Breaking of a tooth that is chipped is not so serious, the dentist will be able to treat it easily. If the tooth breaks due to a trauma like that in which the nerves of the tooth are exposed, then it may be called a dental emergency. Q2. Can a chipped tooth heal itself? A chip cannot heal on its own. Unlike the bones that heal on their own due to the presence of blood vessels, the enamel of the tooth does not have blood vessels present in them. The dentist can, however, fix the problem by either giving the patient a full dental crown or giving veneers. Q3. Can I leave a chipped tooth alone? If the tooth chip is minor, then you can leave it alone. But if the chip is severe, it is better to pay a dentist a visit who is capable of fixing it. There are many treatment options available, like dental onlays, dental crowns, tooth reattachment, and dental veneers.