No one is immune to the appearance of chipped teeth. They can be minor, but in some cases, quite large pieces can break off. This worsens aesthetics and reduces the functionality of the dentition. The AESTHETE Dental Clinic provides care for patients with chipped teeth.
Types of chips
Even a minor defect is a problem. A barely noticeable crack will increase over time, allowing pathogenic organisms to penetrate it. This will cause inflammation of the soft inner tooth tissue – the pulp, leading to a dangerous condition known as pulpitis. It is accompanied by pain, and if left untreated, the tooth may be lost.
The following types of chips most commonly occur.
Microcrack is a barely noticeable defect on the surface of the tooth enamel. The nerve is not affected, so the patient does not experience pain. However, the risk of dental caries increases.
Partial chip is a significant injury that may affect the dentin and pulp. In cases of severe damage, it may be accompanied by bleeding, unpleasant sensations, and discomfort. Pain occurs if the nerve is affected.
Large chip, with root damage. This is a longitudinal vertical fracture that passes through all tooth tissues: from the crown to the root. It is characterized by the impact on the pulp and exposure of the neurovascular bundle, so when the defect occurs, the person experiences severe, sharp pain.
In some cases, the wall of the tooth may chip off. This happens, for example, if a filling falls out or the pulp has been removed from the tooth, making it more fragile.
Usually, any defects are easily noticeable. A crack or chip is visible from the outside, and the patient can notice it in the mirror. If molars, which are located outside the visible area, are damaged, roughness and sharp edges of the damaged areas can be felt with the tongue. Also, the affected tooth will be more sensitive to temperature changes, as well as to sweet, sour, or spicy foods.
Causes of the problem
Cracks and chips in teeth often occur due to mechanical injuries – such as blows or falls. This often happens to athletes and outdoor enthusiasts, but it can also happen to ordinary people, sometimes due to carelessness. Other causes that may lead to this problem include:
- consumption of hard foods, such as hard candies;
- bad habits – some people enjoy biting their nails or pencils, open bottles with their teeth, or cracking nut shells;
- advanced dental diseases – caries softens the enamel and dentin, causing cavities;
- high acidity of saliva – can be caused by smoking, excessive consumption of sugar, salt, sweet carbonated drinks or alcohol, and also occurs due to reflux, a condition in which stomach contents enter the esophagus;
- lack of minerals and vitamins – due to poor nutrition, metabolic disorders, or chronic diseases;
- malocclusion, in which chewing load is distributed unevenly, causing some teeth to be subjected to higher loads;
- bruxism – involuntary grinding of the jaws, leading to rapid wear of the enamel;
- frequent temperature changes – for example, when consuming foods and drinks are too hot or too cold;
- installation of braces on teeth with weakened enamel;
- improper or insufficient oral hygiene – this leads to the accumulation of hard deposits on the tooth surface, which worsen the condition of the enamel.
Chips often occur due to mechanical injuries to teeth that have been weakened for any of the reasons mentioned above.
What to do
The patient's actions depend on how serious the chip is. If a defect is detected, it is necessary to consult a dentist. However, in some cases, microdamages can be found during a routine preventive examination.
In any case, do not hope that the problem will resolve itself. Damaged enamel does not regenerate naturally. Any relief or reduction in pain is likely to be temporary. Gradually, the condition will worsen, and restoring the tooth will become more difficult.
Home care
At home, you can only relieve the condition and prevent infection. To do this, you should:
- rinse your mouth – you can use a chlorhexidine solution, but if it is not available, plain water will suffice;
- apply an ice compress to your cheek to reduce swelling;
- if bleeding occurs, stop it with a turunda: a cotton or gauze swab;
- in case of severe pain, take a pain reliever – if there are no contraindications for such medications;
- exclude hot and cold foods or drinks, also avoid spicy, sweet, or sour foods, and do not chew on the side with the chipped tooth is located.
Try to save the fragment, especially if it is large. The chipped piece might be useful to the dentist when considering actions to restore the tooth.
Professional care
The dentist will assess the nature and extent of the damage, then propose a solution. Depending on the situation, therapy or prosthetics will be used.
If the defect is a small crack, remineralization is usually sufficient – saturating the enamel with minerals to strengthen it. For this, varnishes and gels containing fluoride and calcium are applied to the tooth surface. Additionally, the dentist may polish the damaged area.
If a small piece of the tooth has chipped off, artistic restoration can be performed to restore the missing part using composite material. Minor defects can also be masked with veneers – overlays that are applied to the entire row of teeth.
For significant damage, inlays or crowns are used. If the tooth root is broken, implantation is required. In this case, the tooth is removed, a metal pin is implanted into the jawbone, and a crown is then placed on top. This restores both the aesthetics and functionality of the dentition.
Special Cases
If a piece of a child's tooth chips off, you should quickly consult a pediatric dentist. Children's dental diseases develop faster than in adults, and are often harder to manage.
For an adult patient, damage to a wisdom tooth can be a serious problem. Due to their location, treating these teeth is challenging: access is limited, the root system can be branched, and the canals can be curved and inaccessible. Moreover, wisdom teeth quickly develop cavities, leading to pulpitis and periodontitis.
Restoration methods
If the damage is serious, polishing and remineralization alone will not be enough. The dentist chooses the appropriate treatment method based on the specifics of the clinical case. They may involve artistic restoration or prosthetics.
When Artistic Restoration is Used
Another name for this method is dental bonding. It is used for clearly visible, moderately severe chips. The most common approach is direct restoration. In this case, the dentist restores the chipped part of the tooth using composite material, which hardens under ultraviolet light. This is the same composite material used for fillings. The dentist applies it in layers, curing each layer with a UV lamp.
This restoration is called direct because the dentist restores the tooth directly in the patient's mouth. Indirect restoration is also possible. With this method, dentists use inlays and veneers. These are made in a laboratory based on impressions taken from the patient's teeth.
Artistic restoration allows the damaged tooth to regain its original shape. It restores both the aesthetics and functionality of the tooth. It can withstand chewing loads and looks like a real tooth – the shade can be matched to the natural color of the patient's enamel.
Treatment for chipped front teeth
When biting hard foods or due to trauma, the teeth in the front row usually suffer the most. Defects can range from barely noticeable microcracks to chips with root damage. The problem is that damage in this area is especially noticeable. Therefore, the doctor must pay more attention to aesthetics.
For small cracks, remineralization and enamel strengthening using fluoride-based products are usually sufficient. Larger cracks can be hidden with veneers. If a chip occurs, depending on its size, the doctor may use artistic restoration or place a crown.
In the most severe cases, when the root is damaged, the tooth must be removed and replaced with a crown on a metal pin implanted into the jaw.
When restoring teeth that are visible, it makes sense to use relatively expensive materials to achieve a good aesthetic result.
Treatment for lateral chips
Molar teeth are less visible, so using premium crowns and expensive materials is not always necessary. In these cases, the focus can be on functionality and strength. Veneers are not used in these areas.
Problems with small and medium chips can be resolved using composite materials. The restored composite fragment, hardened under ultraviolet light, can withstand chewing loads well. For more serious damage, prosthetic restoration may be required, and implantation is also possible.
Chips on wisdom teeth
Wisdom teeth, or "eights," do not participate in the chewing process and do not affect the aesthetics of the dentition because they are not visible. Therefore, their treatment or restoration does not make sense. If these teeth are damaged, it is better to remove them. In case of microcracks, remineralizing therapy can be performed, but the final decision rests with the doctor, who considers the clinical case's specifics and the patient's individual characteristics.
Vertical crack
A vertical crack that reaches the pulp is one of the most dangerous defects. A characteristic feature of such damage is the looseness of one half of the tooth. This is accompanied by significant discomfort and pain. Treatment in this case cannot be delayed, as the destruction of the tooth structures will continue, making it impossible to save the tooth.
The solution depends on the depth of the crack. If it is shallow, it can be filled with filling material. Deep cracks can be covered with veneers. If the defect passes through all layers of tooth tissue – enamel, dentin, and pulp – the tooth may need to be removed and replaced with an implant.
Treatment of damage to primary teeth
Dental injuries in children most often occurs during active play: a child falls, is pushed, or accidentally hit. Often parents believe that primary teeth do not need treatment because they will eventually fall out anyway. However, this does not mean the child should avoid seeing a dentist. Damage to primary teeth can cause serious abnormalities in the jaw system in the future.
In cases of chipped primary teeth, doctors perform restoration using composite materials. This protects the dentin and pulp from microbes and helps restore the dentition's functionality.
What happens if you leave a chip untreated?
If the problem is left unresolved, complications will arise. Even a microcrack can increase over time and turn into a full-fledged crack. Pathogenic microorganisms can penetrate the tooth through it. Initially, this may cause caries, followed by more serious diseases like pulpitis. The same applies to a chipped tooth – the surface becomes rough at the chipped area. Food residues accumulate on it, creating an ideal environment for bacteria causing cavities.
Negative consequences of failing to treat a chipped tooth in a timely manner include:
- injuries to the soft tissues of the oral cavity due to contact with sharp or rough chipped areas;
- pulp inflammation – accompanied by discomfort, severe pain, and may lead to tooth loss;
- inflammation of the soft tissues surrounding the tooth root – periodontitis;
- the occurrence of cystic or granulomatous formations – if left untreated, jawbone destruction may begin;
- Malocclusion – causes discomfort, improper distribution of chewing load, speech impediments, and gastrointestinal tract diseases.
Prevention
It is important to monitor the condition of your teeth. Preventive check-ups are important, and you should visit the dentist at least twice a year so that any defects or early signs of dental disease can be detected in time.
Proper oral hygiene must be maintained. Teeth should be brushed twice a day using a toothbrush with appropriate bristle firmness, dental floss, and mouthwash. The choice of toothpaste should be discussed with the doctor.
It is important to visit the dental clinic for professional cleaning once a year. Doctors use special equipment to remove plaque that cannot be effectively eliminated at home.
Nutrition should be monitored. Sweets, carbonated drinks, alcohol, overly salty, acidic, and spicy foods are harmful to teeth. Their consumption should be limited, and your diet should include more foods rich in calcium, vitamin D3, and plant fiber. You can also discuss taking vitamin and mineral supplements with your doctor.
Avoid harmful habits. Teeth should not be used for purposes other than chewing. For example, stop biting nails or opening bottles with your teeth.
Dental diseases and bite pathologies should be treated promptly. If you notice unpleasant symptoms, do not delay visiting the doctor, consult them as soon as possible to solve the problem with less effort and time.
The AESTHETE Dental Clinic is located in Dubai (UAE), Bluewaters Island. Our doctors will help restore a tooth that has chipped. We use effective restoration methods to restore the aesthetics and functionality of the dentition.
Service prices are listed on our website. If you would like to clarify this information or ask any questions, please contact the clinic's administrators. They will provide additional consultations, explain how to schedule an appointment with the dentist, and help you choose a convenient time for the visit.
Questions and Answers
What happens if you swallow a piece of a tooth?
There is nothing to worry about in this case. Even if the fragment has sharp edges, they will be smoothed out by stomach acid and will not harm the internal organs. The piece will pass through the body naturally within three days.
What should you do if a child's tooth chips?
You should take the child to a pediatric dentist as soon as possible. Before the visit:
- ask the child to rinse their mouth with water;
- examine the oral cavity to assess the nature of the injury and check for bleeding;
- apply a cold compress if there is swelling;
- give a usual pain reliever if the child is in severe pain.
If possible, keep the chipped piece in slightly salted water or milk.
What deficiency causes teeth to crumble?
A lack of vitamins and minerals is not the only issue that can cause chipping, but it does weaken the teeth and increase the likelihood of chips and cracks. Deficiencies in B, C, and D vitamins, as well as phosphorus, calcium, and fluoride, are particularly harmful. To address the problem, it is important to eat a balanced diet and take special vitamin and mineral supplements. It is best to discuss their selection with a doctor.
Referense
- Cracked teeth. American Association of Endodontists. Accessed 02/07/20.
- Mamoun JS, Napoletano D. Cracked tooth diagnosis and treatment: an alternative paradigm. Eur J Dent. 2015;9(2):293-303.
- Hasan S, Singh K, Salati N. Cracked tooth syndrome: overview of literature. Int J Appl Basic Med Res. 2015;5(3):164-168.
- Li F, Diao Y, Wang J, et al. Review of cracked tooth syndrome: etiology, diagnosis, management, and prevention. Pain Res Manag. 2021;2021:3788660.
