For some, the thought of chipping a tooth is terrifying. Maybe you’ve had an accident, bitten into something tough, or seen a tooth slowly decay. Depending on the severity of the break, the outcome could range from a small chip that is scarcely perceptible to excruciating pain.
When is it necessary to visit an emergency dentist immediately? When would it be OK to reschedule the appointment?
These questions concerning dental crises and chipped teeth are answered in this article.
When Should You See a Dentist Right Away?
Severe Tooth Ache
Extreme tooth pain, which can be anything from a mild ache to a sharp, searing agony, is a typical dental emergency. There are a number of dental problems that could be causing this crippling pain, including cavities, fractures, sensitivity, or infections that could necessitate root canal therapy. A trip to the emergency room is in order if you’re in excruciating pain; you need to rule out serious dental issues like nerve damage or breakage.
Tooth fracture
Tooth damage can result from trauma, forceful chewing on food particles, or the gradual wear and tear of a dental crown. While a chipped tooth is certainly no laughing matter, you don’t always need to see an emergency dentist right away. You can put off taking care of the chip until our regular business hours if it’s tiny and doesn’t hurt. Nevertheless, it necessitates the immediate assistance of a dentist in the event that it is big, sharp, and produces localized pain or bleeding.
Cosmetic dental procedures, such as dental bonding, can fix the problem.
Damaged Tooth
The loss of a single tooth due to an accident, a fall, or a sports injury is the most common cause of this dental emergency. A knocked-out adult tooth can be saved with prompt care, if the patient can reach the dentist office in a timely manner.
Try to put the tooth back into its socket after rinsing it with warm water; be careful not to get water on the root. If that isn’t possible, then find a Jarrell emergency dentist and put the tooth in a container with some milk or saline.
Missing or Diffuse Tooth
Loss of stability in your teeth should raise warning flags because adult teeth are meant to endure a lifetime. Uneven teeth not only increase the risk of tooth loss, but they can indicate more serious problems with your oral health, like periodontal disease. Further issues cannot be prevented without early detection and access to therapeutic alternatives.
Severe Inflammation of the Mouth or Face
If you notice any sudden swelling in your jaw, mouth, or face, it could be a sign of a serious allergy, an infection, or an abscess. It’s important to have this checked out right away because it could affect your general health. Get emergency dental care right away if you’re also experiencing a fever, trouble breathing, or swallowing.
Uncontrolled hemorrhage
It is considered a dental emergency if the bleeding after a tooth extraction or injury cannot be controlled. Problems with blood clot development or harm to soft tissues can be indicated. Apply a cold compress to the affected area and go to the dentist as soon as possible.
Jaw Locked or Infinite Pain
Bruxism, or teeth grinding, or temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) are two dental conditions that could cause chronic jaw pain. Pain in the jaw joint can be caused by a variety of arthritic conditions. Seek prompt medical assistance for these issues in order to alleviate discomfort and restore normal jaw function through TMJ treatment.
Gum Pain or Swelling
If left untreated, painful and swollen gums could indicate gum disease or a dental abscess, both of which can cause tooth loss. When gums get too sensitive, it may be time to consider getting those pesky wisdom teeth out for good dental hygiene. Make an appointment with your dentist right away if you notice any swelling or soreness that does not go away.
Just How Serious Is It to Deal With Chipped Teeth?
Stop Additional Injury
At first glance, a small chip in your tooth might not appear like a big concern. On the other hand, if you disregard the chip, it can cause more serious cracks, which could expose the nerve and cause excruciating agony. The level of damage makes it understandable that a small chip could not be immediately deemed a dental emergency.
However, it is advised to see an emergency dental practice without delay following a tooth injury in order to prevent the possibility of serious fractures or broken teeth.
Stay Healthy
Cavities and infections can more easily infect teeth that have chips. Infections or abscesses can develop if bacteria are able to access the pulp through microscopic holes created by surface damage to the tooth. Dental procedures like root canals or tooth extractions are frequently necessary to alleviate this excruciating pain. In spite of how little a damaged tooth may appear, it is crucial to get dental treatment as soon as possible to avoid infections and keep your mouth healthy.
Take Care of Your Teeth
Placing food particles inside the chip might encourage the growth of germs, which in turn can cause gum disease or cavities. To prevent chipped teeth from becoming more serious dental problems, it is important to visit the dentist often. It is essential for general health to prioritize oral health and to seek emergency dental care immediately upon discovering a chipped tooth.
Maintain Dental Health
Both the tooth’s aesthetics and its ability to perform its natural function are compromised by a chipped tooth. Problems with chewing and speaking could develop as a result of the damage to the tooth structure. For long-term oral health and structural preservation, it’s best to see an emergency dentist in Jarrell, TX, as soon as possible.
Keep Your Teeth Healthy
Chipped or cracked teeth might cause tooth loss if not addressed. Timely treatment not only saves the natural tooth but also keeps restorative dental procedures like dental implants out of the picture.
Prevent Anger and Discomfort
Minor chips might not hurt at first, but they can cause extreme agony if they make your teeth sensitive to cold, such as when you drink cold water or eat cold food. Ignoring this issue might worsen the chance of nerve injury, which in turn can cause severe tooth pain. Pain relief, reduced tooth sensitivity, and the avoidance of root canal therapy are all possible outcomes of well-managed dental care.
How Do Teeth Look?
A person’s sense of self-worth might take a hit when they experience the loss or damage of a tooth, particularly a front tooth. Dental bonding and dental crowns are two common cosmetic dentistry procedures that can fix damaged teeth and restore their natural appearance.
Immediate attention is key to ensuring a high-quality repair and restoring confidence in one’s smile, regardless of whether the chipped tooth is an adult or a baby tooth.
How Can a Chipped Tooth Be Repaired?
Dental Bonding
If your tooth has a little chip or crack, one of the easiest and most affordable dental treatments is dental bonding. To fix a chipped tooth, a tooth-colored resin is applied and then set to solidify under a specific light. Without invasive procedures, it’s a great way to get the appearance of healthy teeth back.
A dental bridge or an implant
Have you broken a significant tooth and are in excruciating pain? One possible option is to get a dental implant or crown. In addition to restoring the tooth’s appearance and functionality, a dental crown protects the tooth from further damage and lessens its sensitivity to cold. For more serious cases where tooth extraction is necessary, resulting in tooth loss, dental implants are an excellent alternative.
Treatment for Root Canals
There is also the option of root canal treatments. If the chip has exposed the nerve and is causing severe pain, this is the recommended course of action. Food particles could get stuck in an infected tooth or nerve damage, which could lead to more complications. In order to alleviate the pain and remove the affected area, your dentist will conduct root canal therapy.
What Are Some Ways to Prevent Chipped Teeth?
This entails doing things like seeing the dentist regularly for cleanings and checkups, flossing once a day, and brushing your teeth twice a day. By seeing patients for checkups on a regular basis, dentists can catch potential problems with their teeth and gums before they become serious.
Always use a mouthguard. Wearing a mouthguard can prevent fractures of the teeth in contact sports and other activities where teeth could be injured.
You run the risk of chipping or breaking your teeth if you chew on ice, popcorn kernels, or hard candies. You can injure your teeth just by using them to open packages.
Bruxism, which is the habit of repeatedly clenching or grinding one’s teeth, can cause chips or fractures in the enamel. It is recommended to consult a dentist regarding treatment alternatives if you are aware of teeth grinding or clenching, especially when sleeping.
Babies’ and adults’ teeth are both protected from decay and damage when their diets are rich in minerals like calcium and vitamin D.
The enamel of your teeth is vulnerable to acid erosion and food debris, so it’s important to drink lots of water throughout the day to keep them clean.
Tobacco use lowers the body’s defenses, leaving it more susceptible to infections caused by germs, particularly those found in the mouth, which can erode tooth and gum health.
Reduce your intake of sugar and alcohol. Tooth decay, caused by a combination of sugar and alcohol, weakens and chips teeth.
If you have a chipped tooth, we can help! For dentists in Jarrell, TX, contact Jarrell Dental Care!
Is it an emergency to go to the dentist for a chipped tooth? How much damage has been done determines it. But in severe cases, you need to get treatment right once so you can avoid issues and keep your teeth healthy.
The skilled staff at Jarrell Dental Care can help you with any kind of tooth damage. Keeping your teeth healthy is essential to having a beautiful smile for a long time. When you have a broken or chipped tooth, don’t wait to call us to schedule an appointment.
The dental care you require is within our capabilities, and we prioritize your well-being. Maintain a preventative dental care routine and act swiftly when necessary.