Cracking or chipping a tooth can be frightening. The appearance of your smile is usually altered when a tooth gets chipped. Chipping a tooth is not always painful, leading some people to believe they don’t need medical attention. We recommend visiting the best dentist in San Francisco, Zeal Dentistry if you chip a tooth.
Chipped teeth have much more of an effect on your smile than you think. It’s always a good idea to get your chipped tooth checked out by your cosmetic dentist as soon as possible after any dental injury.
Call 415.792.4771 immediately if you experience the following:
Sensitive Teeth
If you have a small tooth chip, your dentist may just need to ensure your tooth hasn’t sustained further damage and gently smooth the chip. At this point, your dentist will make sure your tooth has not sustained any other damage. Although the damage might not always be visible, it could cause increased tooth sensitivity over time. Cracks in tooth enamel can allow the inner part of your tooth to be highly sensitive to cold, heat, and sugar.
Can a Chipped Tooth Cause a Cavity?
Yes! Your tooth’s crack or chip could lead to more than an imperfect smile. A crack or chip can create a pathway for bacteria to enter your tooth’s enamel. This can cause a cavity and need for a dental filling.
Eventually, it can start affecting the nerve. If your tooth’s nerve becomes infected, you’ll need a root canal and will be at risk of losing the tooth.
Loss of a Tooth
A chipped or cracked tooth may not feel like a dental emergency—you probably won’t be able to see the extent of damage by looking in a mirror. However, your San Francisco dentist has been trained to detect damage that may not be visible on the surface. If your tooth has a major crack that extends into the root of the tooth, you risk losing your tooth if you don’t seek treatment. These cracks get worse over time, so addressing the issue right away will be to your benefit.
Missing teeth can cause the following problems:
- Changes in your bite
- Decay in nearby teeth
- Speech problems
- Bone loss
- Difficulty chewing
- Movement of teeth nearby
- Altered facial features
- Bad breath
- Infections
- Low self-esteem
- Self-Esteem Issues
A chipped tooth is not a good look. If you chip a tooth in the front of your mouth, your dentist will be able to fill in and smooth the chip so that it is almost undetectable. Cracked or chipped teeth create problems in your smile that get worse over time. You can avoid this by visiting your San Francisco dentist.
A tiny tooth crack might be difficult to notice, but it will lead to future dental problems. When your tooth has experienced an injury, schedule an appointment with your dentist. If you have the chipped section of the tooth, bring that with you.
Avoiding a Chipped Tooth
Chewing hard candy, playing contact sports, and many other activities can lead to cracked, damaged teeth. In order to protect your teeth, don’t chew ice or try to open things with your teeth. Wearing a bite guard can help protect your teeth from grinding and sports-related injuries.
When there is an injury to a tooth, a dentist needs to evaluate it to help protect it from additional harm. If you ignore a damaged tooth, you will eventually experience an infection accompanied by sudden, severe pain. Taking care of a chipped tooth will help you avoid needing more dental work in the future.
Chipped Tooth in San Francisco, CA? Contact Your Dentist
If you notice a crack or chip in one of your teeth, the following services may be necessary to prevent further damage:
- Dental filling
- Dental bonding
- Dental veneers
- Dental crown
Contact Zeal Dentistry right away if a tooth has been cracked or chipped by calling 415.792.4771.
