Reasons to Get a Chipped Tooth Fixed at Your Dentist’s Office

A What Should I Do If I Chip My Tooth might not feel like it needs dental care, but you should still have it checked out by a dentist. A chipped tooth can be the result of things like a person biting down on something hard or getting hit in the face.

Teeth that have been weakened by tooth decay are more vulnerable to chips and breaks because decay eats away at the inner structures of teeth. A chipped tooth is more likely to develop decay because some areas might not have any enamel protecting them.

Why your chipped tooth needs treatment

Let us take a look at reasons that dentists recommend getting chipped teeth looked at, regardless of how minor they might seem.

1. Protects against tooth decay

Teeth are protected by an outer layer known as the enamel, and its job is to protect the more sensitive inner layers from bacteria and acids in the mouth. When a tooth is chipped, most of the damage affects the enamel because it is taken off. With the enamel gone, acids created by oral bacteria have an easier time getting into a tooth’s inner layers and eating away at their structure.

2. Leads to an improved smile

A tooth in the front of the mouth becoming chipped is impossible to miss. Some people try to cover up such aesthetic issues by not fully opening their mouths, but their attempts to hide the flaws on their teeth usually fail.

Dentists can use treatments like composite bonding, veneers and crowns to restore teeth that have been disfigured by chips and breaks. The patient’s smile is restored so they can confidently show it off.

3. Protects against infection

A tooth becoming chipped leaves it more vulnerable to tooth decay, and that can lead to the pulp chamber being opened up. The pulp chamber contains connective tissues, blood vessels and a tooth’s nerve. When it has been opened up by damage to a tooth, bacteria make their way in there, infecting the soft tissues.

A tooth infection is a serious health condition that requires immediate treatment. If left untreated, the infection can spread to other parts of the body, like the heart and brain, where its effects can be life-threatening.

Dentists typically treat infected teeth by performing root canals. The process involves removing the soft tissues in the pulp chamber and disinfecting the area. It is an effective way to treat a tooth infection and has a high success rate. Such infections are often accompanied by severe toothaches, which typically go away after a root canal is performed. A dentist might recommend extracting an infected tooth when there is a significant risk of the infection spreading to other parts of the body.

Restore the way your smile looks

Ready to get rid of that chip that makes you self-conscious when you smile? Call or visit our Philadelphia clinic to learn more about how our dentist can restore your smile.

Request an appointment here: https://frankforddentalcare.com or call Frankford Dental Care at (215) 302-1746 for an appointment in our Philadelphia office.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: What Should I Do If I Chip My Tooth in Philadelphia, PA.