Oh no, a chipped tooth!
Whether you were biting into some hard food or took an accidental hit to the mouth, a chipped, cracked or broken tooth is a common issue we see at our Mount Gambier and Port Fairy dental clinics.
Although tooth enamel is the hardest substance in your body (yes, it’s even stronger than your bones), it’s not indestructible. And sometimes, our teeth come off second best in everyday activities like crunching on ice or playing contact sports.
So, what do you do when you’ve got a chipped tooth?
Keep reading to find out some handy tips on how to care for a chipped and cracked tooth, as well as chipped tooth repair treatment options.
Disclaimer: This article contains general advice and should not be used to diagnose or treat a chipped tooth. If you or your child has a chipped or broken tooth, please call us immediately for an emergency appointment to assess and repair any damage.
What to do when you chip or crack a tooth
Below is a step-by-step guide on what to do when you’ve got a chipped tooth, including some basic chipped tooth first aid to help prevent further damage and ease any discomfort or swelling:
Step 1: Call us ASAP
The first thing you should do if you’ve chipped, cracked or broken a tooth is call our Mount Gambier dentist to book an emergency dental appointment. We set aside time each day for emergencies like this so we can get you in and get you fixed up fast.
Here’s the thing: a chipped, cracked or broken tooth should not be ignored. Even if it doesn’t hurt or bother you, it’s crucial that you have a dental professional assess the damage and discuss treatment options. They will be able to advise on how to fix a chipped tooth and work with you to find a restorative treatment that suits you.
Step 2: Rinse your mouth
Rinse your mouth with salt water or antibacterial mouthwash to wash away any bacteria or food particles from the jagged ends of your chipped tooth. This will help to reduce the risk of infection.
Step 3: Stop any bleeding
If you were hit in the mouth and have some minor bleeding, use a clean gauze pad to apply gentle pressure to the area. If your chipped tooth was caused by severe trauma and you are experiencing heavy bleeding or acute pain, please go to your nearest Hospital Emergency Department or Urgent Care Clinic.
Step 4: Apply a cold compress
Apply a cold compress to the outer cheek on the affected side for about 20 minutes to help reduce swelling and pain. Repeat every few hours if needed.
Step 5: Take over-the-counter pain relief (if needed)
If your chipped tooth is causing you pain or discomfort, this can be managed with over-the-counter pain medication until you see your dentist for further assessment.
Step 6: Avoid irritating food and drinks
Avoid food and drinks that are cold, hot or hard to chew as your chipped, cracked or broken tooth may be extra sensitive. Also try to avoid chewing or biting with your chipped tooth to prevent further damage.
Chipped tooth causes
You can chip or break a tooth by doing a simple daily activity like eating or by something more serious like trauma to the mouth.
The most common causes of chipped teeth include:
- Eating or biting into hard, crunchy foods or foods with hard pits like olives or cherries
- Using teeth to tear off tags or open packaging (remember: DO NOT use your teeth as tools!)
- Teeth grinding or clenching (bruxism)
- Accidental trauma to the face or mouth
- Sporting injuries
- Old failing dental fillings or restorations
- Cavities
What to do if your tooth is knocked out
If your tooth is knocked out completely and it’s still in one piece, your dentist may be able to put it back in and save it. However, the tooth must be placed back into its socket within 30 minutes of the injury for the best outcome so it’s crucial to act fast.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on what to do if a tooth is knocked out:
Step 1: Locate the tooth but don’t touch the root
If the tooth was completely knocked out of the mouth, be sure to only pick it up by the crown (i.e. the top of the tooth) and do not touch the root.
Step 2: Rinse the tooth
If the tooth is dirty, rinse it with clean water or milk.
Step 3: Don’t let the tooth dry out
The tooth will have the best chance of survival if you can hold it in your mouth (by the cheek). This keeps it in its natural environment and ensures it won’t dry out. If your mouth is injured and you can’t hold the tooth in your cheek, place it in a small glass of milk.
Step 4: Call us ASAP for an emergency appointment
A knocked out tooth is an urgent dental emergency. Call us immediately and we’ll get you in for an emergency appointment.
Got a chip that needs checking?
Book an appointment now or download our guide for more info on our fees.
Can a chipped tooth be repaired?
Yes, there are many chipped tooth treatment options available. Your dentist will advise on the type of restorative treatment that’s best for your case, depending on the level of damage and the condition of the affected tooth.
For the best outcome, early treatment is vital. Be sure to see your dentist ASAP if you chip, crack or break off part of your tooth.
Chipped tooth treatment options include:
Dental fillings
Fillings are typically used for a small chip or crack in the tooth, such as a chipped back tooth or chipped molar tooth.
Dental crowns
A dental crown may be needed if the chipped or broken part of the tooth is too large to be restored with a filling.
Dental veneers
For a chipped front tooth, dental veneers may be the most aesthetic option to restore the appearance of your smile.
Root canal therapy
For more severe cases of broken or cracked teeth, root canal treatment may be needed.
Tooth extraction
Your dentist will do whatever they can to save your natural tooth, but if the chipped or broken tooth is unable to be restored, tooth removal may be the only option. The missing tooth may then be replaced with a dental implant.
What’s the price to fix a chipped tooth?
The chipped tooth repair cost will vary depending on the extent of the damage to the tooth and the type of restorative treatment needed to repair it.
At Illumident, we have all of our treatment fees clearly listed in our Price Guide — get your copy above.
When you have a chipped or broken tooth, you don’t need the added stress of worrying about how you’ll afford treatment. That’s why we offer flexible payment plans (including Afterpay) that allow you to spread out the cost of your treatment into comfortable instalments.
What happens if a chipped tooth is left untreated?
Maybe your chipped tooth isn’t painful.
Or maybe the chip or broken part of the tooth is only small and not *that* noticeable.
Maybe you think you’ll put off going to the dentist… or perhaps you’ll avoid treatment altogether.
But here’s the bottom line:
A chipped and cracked tooth can turn into a much bigger and more painful (and often more expensive) problem if left untreated.
Here are a few issues that can occur if you delay treatment for a chipped tooth:
Decay and infection
The jagged edges of the chipped or broken tooth provide a great hiding place for bacteria, as it grows, so does your risk of decay and infection. This means that a small chip or crack that could’ve been fixed with a straightforward filling could turn into a more serious issue requiring complex treatment like root canal therapy or, at worst, extraction.
Further damage
A chipped, cracked or broken tooth is much more vulnerable to further damage or breakage. If the damage worsens significantly over time, it may be unable to be restored and may need to be removed altogether.
Jaw issues
When eating or chewing, you may continually avoid the side of the damaged tooth. Over time, this can lead to an imbalance in your jaw muscles, jaw strain, jaw pain, TMJ or even lockjaw.
Got a chipped tooth that needs checking?
Don’t put it off! As we mentioned above, earlier treatment is vital to prevent further damage to your chipped tooth. Contact us on (08) 8725 2441 for our Mount Gambier dental practice or on (03) 5568 2577 for our Port Fairy dental practice so we repair your pearly whites and get you smiling again.
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