The enamel layer of your teeth is very hard and durable. This allows you to bite off, chew and grind hard foods. Unfortunately, there are rare situations where an accidental fall or blow to the face can carry enough force to actually chip the enamel layer on one or more teeth. This is even more likely if you grind your teeth at night on a frequent basis, or have a bad habit of nibbling on things like pencils and pens.
The depth and severity of the chip will greatly influence the restoration options that your Anderson Lane Dental dentist will recommend.
If you don’t feel any pain or sensitivity it probably means the chip is limited to the tooth’s enamel layer. Your dentist might be able to repair it with a simple filling. If the tooth is visible in your smile they might recommend a porcelain dental veneer. A significant chip might require a total restoration with a crown.
A sharp or persistent pain in a chipped tooth often means that damage extends deep into the tooth exposing the dentin, pulp or root of the tooth. In a situation like this, your dentist might need to perform a root canal to replace the damaged part of the tooth before restoring it with a crown.
If you have recently chipped a tooth you should call Anderson Lane Dental’s office in Austin, Texas at 512.459.4347 to explore your restoration options.