What to Do If You Chip or Break a Tooth in Mississauga

Getting a broken tooth is a common occurrence that may happen unexpectedly and leave you feeling unprepared. Many people face unanticipated damaged teeth in Mississauga while eating, doing regular activities, or due to a gradual decline in the strength of a tooth. Knowing what to do next can help protect your comfort and your oral health, as well as preserve the ability to successfully finish restoring the affected tooth. This guide explains and outlines the essential information Mississauga residents need to know regarding the instant and best practices in case a tooth breaks or chips, and the diverse ways dentists repair damaged teeth.

Causes of Chipped or Broken Teeth

Teeth are naturally durable, but some factors can make them more susceptible to chips or breaks. Knowing the most common causes will help you determine how to prevent the problem from happening in the future.

Biting Something Hard

Occasionally, a tooth may chip while biting a hard piece of food, like nuts, hard candy, dense bread, or popcorn kernels. Even healthy teeth can react in an unexpected way to sudden pressures.

Changes in Tooth Structure

Teeth are more likely to break with older fillings or previous dental work, and especially with areas of thinning enamel, because the structure is not as strong as it once was.

Everyday Situations

Chipping or fracturing a tooth is often unnoticeable right away, and it can occur from the day-to-day activities of chewing with a pen, opening packages with the teeth, or making sudden jaw movements.

Grinding or Clenching

Teeth can weaken over time and more likely get a chip from the repetitive stress of nightly clenching or grinding, which over time can weaken enamel.

Natural Wear

Teeth can also be more likely to chip or break with everyday use as a result of thinning enamel, which is a part of aging.

Regardless of the cause, any irregularities in a tooth’s surface or structure warrant a visit to a dental professional in Mississauga.

What to Do Right After a Tooth Chips or Breaks

Your reaction in the first few minutes can especially help keep the tooth from moving or becoming more damaged, along with making the work easier for the dentist, so here are steps to take.

Rinse Gently

To clean the area in order to remove any fragments or food particles, which can help with sensitivity, use warm water and rinse gently.

Retain Any Tooth Fragments You Find

When you spot a small piece of tooth that has come loose, place it in a clean container. You can use your saliva or a little water to keep it moist and keep it from drying out. Your dentist in Mississauga may be able to reattach it, depending on the situation.

Smooth Down Rough Edges

If the chipped tooth has a rough edge and you feel it may irritate your mouth, you may use dental wax, or sugar-free gum, until you can have the chip examined.

Cold Compress the Outside of the Jaw

To help ease any discomfort, place a cold pack on the outside of the jaw near the tooth. Be sure to wrap the pack in a light cloth to protect your skin.

Use Pain Relief Medications if Necessary

If the tooth is chipped and the area is sensitive, you may take over-the-counter pain relief medications. Interfrain from putting any pain relief on the tooth or the tissue around the tooth.

Contact your Dentist in Mississauga as Soon as Possible

A broken or chipped tooth needs to be looked at as soon as possible, even if it is not causing pain. The sooner you can be examined, the easier it is to address the problem and prevent further damage from occurring.

When Is It Necessary to Get Dental Care that Same Day?

In some cases, long-term implications for the health of the tooth are possible, so timely evaluation is necessary. Call your Mississauga dentist if:

• ⚠ The tooth is uncomfortably sensitive to hot, cold, or pressure
• ⚠ A substantial portion of the tooth has broken away
• ⚠ You notice considerable discoloration shortly after the tooth is chipped
• ⚠ You notice the tooth has, or has developed, a visible fracture or split
• ⚠ You are having difficulty or discomfort while chewing
• ⚠ A crown, filling, or veneer was broken or popped off

Acting quickly reduces the chances of bacteria gaining access to sensitive areas and helps improve the chances of successful restoration of the tooth.

What Problems Might Arise If Too Much Time Passes?

A chipped or broken tooth is a common occurrence. It may not seem like a big deal in the short term. However, if left unremedied, a number of problems may arise which require even more dental care.

Increased Sensitivity

If the tooth has a sensitive inner layer (pulp tissue), the person may find that the tooth is sensitive to sweet foods, hot foods or beverages, and cold foods and beverages.

Diminished Structural Integrity

Once the surface has been chipped, tooth is progressively more likely to become worn in the area, and even fracture in a more sustained way.

Food Accumulation

Dentists in Mississauga commonly answer concerns about a chipped tooth that involve a difficulty in maintaining area. For example, a chipped tooth may allow food to collect, which can irritate the area’s gum tissue and allow even more difficulty in cleaning the area.

Bacteria Entering The Tooth

Bacteria that are inside of broken teeth will be able to access deeper levels, and that will lead to greater levels of inflammation and infection; I.e., inflammation and infection are greater because mesial and distal infection potential increases.

Instead of greater levels of infection, treatment of exposed, inflamed tissue should be done. Then you’ll be able to do restoration that is even simpler because tissue will be less complex, and tissue at adjacent levels won’t require more complex restoration because they don’t have as much or as complex damaged tissue as the adjacent levels have.

Mississauga Dentists Repairing Broken or Chipped Teeth

They will inspect the tooth and may also do X-rays of the affected tooth to have detailed the picture and structure of the inside to assist with selecting the treatment options that your particular situation requires. The options that can be selected depend on the particular tooth and the levels of tissue that are damaged.

Dental Bonding

This is the quick, easy, and cheapest option (if the damage is a small chip).

Dental Veneers

These are also an option (and good cosmetic option) if the damaged chip is on a front tooth because the veneer will cover the damaged tooth and make it look whole again and won’t change the function of the tooth.

Dental Crowns

This is an option if a large part of your tooth is damaged (if a large part is broken, and it is also a part that is initially whole that is present, and exposed to the external environment (so that is the part that is visible). A large portion of the tooth is broken, so that large portion of the tooth must be restored).

Root Canal Treatment

A root canal will be needed if the internal part of the tooth becomes compromised or irritated if damage has occurred. This treatment also protects the internal structure from further long-term pain.

Tooth Replacement Options

Replacement options such as implants or bridges can help sustain functionality and aesthetic of the mouth if the tooth is beyond repair and restoration isn’t an option.

Reattachment of Tooth Fragments

If the tooth has a broken piece and you have a fragment, there is a chance that the dentist can reattach the piece. This is more likely if the break is clean, or the chip is more of a fresh break.

Preventive Tips to Reduce the Likelihood of Chipped Teeth

A number of broken or chipped tooth cases can be preventable. Here are some of the steps to ensure the safety of Mississauga residents’ teeth.

• ✓ Avoid eating very firm snacks, hard candy or ice, and other things that are hard to chew
• ✓ If you grind or clench your teeth at night, night guards can be very useful
• ✓ If you are doing sports or other activities that are risky for the teeth, a mouthguard can be very useful
• ✓ To catch potential dental issues, regular dentist appointments are very important
• ✓ To prevent decay, small cavities need to be repaired quickly, as well as worn fillings
• ✓ Refrain from using your teeth as scissors or tools and using them to open packages or containers
• ✓ To keep teeth healthy and strong, regular good dental care habits such as brushing and flossing are essential

Strong enamel will be present if good dental care habits are practiced, which will reduce the chance of a broken tooth.

What to Expect During Your Visit to a Mississauga Dentist

During your appointment to fix a chipped or broken tooth, your dental care team is trained to info the care recommended is tailored to your needs. Your appointment will include:

• ✓ Assessing the tooth and the surrounding area.
• ✓ Taking necessary X-rays for further evaluation.
• ✓ Reviewing repair options to include timelines and the outcomes to be anticipated.
• ✓ Smoothing or stabilizing the area or region if necessary.
• ✓ Most chips will be repaired during the appointment.
• ✓ Providing appropriate follow up restorative care if indicated.

Advanced dental materials used in modern restorative dentistry are designed to easily repair a tooth in a way that is comfortable, functional, and natural.

Concluding Comments

A chipped or broken tooth can certainly be a disruption to your day, but the good news is that if you get the proper dental care in a timely manner, the results are almost always excellent. A Mississauga dentist is trained to assess the tooth, and if necessary, relieve discomfort and provide a restoration. Restorations are designed to bring the tooth back to the original function and appearance. Quick repairs are necessary to avoid downstream complications and to mitigate the risk to your oral health.