Chipped teeth are those with cracks and irregularities in the tooth enamel. They carry a significant risk for the dental pieces in case they are not repaired properly, since, as a consequence of the weakening of the enamel, the teeth are more susceptible to suffering other types of injuries, such as cavities.
Chipped teeth are often a problem that can harm anyone at various stages of life, regardless of age, social status, or gender. In most cases, they occur as a result of attenuation in the enamel. Therefore, they do not cause any significant pain. However, they can become much more than just cosmetic blemishes.
Once the tooth enamel is damaged, the damage tends to spread if treatment is not received immediately. In this sense, the sooner you receive treatment, the greater the chances of preventing any dental problem.
Why Do Teeth Chip?
Chipped teeth have various causes and chips for a variety of reasons. Among the most frequent are:
- Biting hard foods, such as ice or candy.
- Falls or accidents involving trauma to the mouth.
- Dental trauma in contact sports with the absence of a mouthguard.
- Grind your teeth when you sleep.
However, there are also some risk components such as:
Dental cavities
These lesions in their initial stage emerge due to poor dental hygiene, so it will be enough to take extreme oral cleanliness. However, when the dental piece with cavities has a break, much deeper treatments such as a root canal will be required.
Bruxism
The bad habit of clenching the teeth unconsciously creates extra tension in the teeth, which will cause, over time, the enamel to weaken and a fissure to arise more easily when biting improperly or suffering a blow to the cavity.
Age
Age has a strong and relevant role in oral health and can cause chipped teeth. Teeth also age, and as the years go by, teeth wear down making them more prone and sensitive to breaking.
Feeding Habits
Maintaining a healthy and balanced diet not only provides numerous benefits for general health, but it will also help in the strengthening and development of teeth by ingesting vitamins or nutrients.
But, when the daily food intake is somewhat high, the outer layer of the teeth wears down, leaving its surface exposed due to the acids that contain a diet high in sucrose, and spicy or sour foods, causing them to they break more easily.
Reflux
Heartburn, better known as reflux, tends to be a digestive condition that can cause acid to rise into the mouth and cause damage to tooth enamel which can lead to chipped teeth.
Symptoms Of Chipped Teeth
If the injury to the tooth is minor and does not occur in the front of the oral cavity, the person may not even notice it. However, if not, it can cause:
• Uneven or rough surfaces when you run your tongue over the affected tooth.
• Irritation of the gum surrounding the tooth.
• Pain in the teeth and gums as a result of the pressure exerted when chewing.
• Increased sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures when eating.
• Fever.
• Bad breath or bitter taste.
• Swollen glands or nodes in areas such as the neck or jaw.
• Appearance of small lines in the enamel.
Treatments For A Chipped Tooth
Treatment of a chipped tooth depends on the condition of the tooth. There are usually multiple treatments that tend to vary depending on the person, dental location, degree of condition, needs or symptoms. They stand out among them:
dental filling
With this treatment, the fragment of the chipped tooth is reconstructed by means of a resin such as a composite that is manipulated in a very simple way to imitate the real shade of the damaged tooth.
dental crowns
With dental crowns, the surface of the affected tooth can be modified, adapting it in an ideal way in size, color and position. This, in addition, will serve as protection for it. This treatment usually lasts approximately eight to ten years. However, the time may vary and will be emphasized depending on the aftercare that each person performs.
dental veneers
Dental veneers are thin sheets of porcelain that are bonded to the outer surface of the tooth. Among its many advantages, it has the duration and aesthetics of the treatment. This type of treatment has the possibility of lasting approximately up to 20 years. However, it will also depend on habits or subsequent care.
dental inlays
When the lesion only affects a section of the tooth, aesthetic dental inlays may be recommended, which are mainly applied to the surface of the molars.
It will be necessary to make an impression for the creation of the dental mould, and, later, proceed with the inlay. Once they are in place, they are fitted to the tooth and then cemented. Dental inlays precisely reconstruct the original anatomy, colour and brightness of the tooth. This allows for taking great care of the aesthetics of the tooth.
Request An Appointment Without Commitment
At the Dental Clinic in Janakpuri we have a highly qualified team of professionals specialized in dental aesthetics.
Each one of them will be in charge of indicating those treatments, methods and/or techniques to follow depending on your situation, degree of affection, needs and tastes in your oral health.
If you want to know in greater depth each of the treatments that you must undergo to improve the appearance of your chipped teeth once and for all, do not hesitate to request an appointment with the best dentist in Janakpuri.