You can chip your tooth doing the most mundane things. Biting down too hard on food, taking an accidental elbow to your face, or even grinding your teeth at night. In many cases, chips are small. The tooth might feel rough or look slightly uneven, but you won’t feel any pain. That’s why a lot of people shrug it off.
However, some chips can crack deeper into the tooth than you realize, exposing the sensitive inner layers and leading to infections, nerve damage, and tooth fractures. You might not know which kind of chip you’re dealing with just by looking at it. That’s why getting the chipped tooth looked at, even if it seems small, is important.
It doesn’t matter if the chip is minor or serious, at LivWell Dentistry in San Francisco and San Ramon, California, Dr. Wenli Loo and Dr. Steve Deng can assess the damage and treat it before it causes any complications.
A tooth doesn’t have to be unhealthy to chip. Either weakened enamel or decay can make your teeth more vulnerable, yet even strong, healthy teeth can crack or chip. It could be as a result of something you ate, an old filling giving way, pressure from grinding at night, or trauma from a fall or accident.
It doesn’t always take much, and once a piece of the tooth breaks off, no matter how small, the structure is no longer intact. Even the tiniest chip can stress the rest of a tooth, which increases the risk of further damage in the future.
Some chips are small and don’t hurt or change your bite. Those small chips also don’t leave your tooth vulnerable. In those cases, we might simply smooth out the edge and send you on your way. Other chips, however, can reach the dentin, which is the sensitive inner layer of your tooth, or even affect tooth pulp, where the nerves and blood vessels are.
Signs that a chip may be more serious include:
A tooth that looks fine might already be developing a crack below the gumline, and a chip that doesn’t hurt today might start to throb next week.
If you’ve chipped a tooth and you’re feeling pain, that’s a clear sign to come in. Even if you aren’t experiencing any pain, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safe to ignore. It’s always better to have a dental professional take a look.
If a chipped tooth is left untreated and the damage is more than surface level, complications can develop over time. You may develop increased sensitivity to hot or cold foods, or start to feel discomfort when you chew or bite.
In some cases, the tooth becomes structurally weaker and more prone to breaking further. In others, bacteria enter the exposed area and lead to decay or infection. Once decay or infection sets in, treatment becomes more complex. What might have been fixed with a simple filling or polish could now require a crown or a root canal.
A chipped tooth can seem like a minor issue. Without a proper exam, there’s no way to know for sure. Some chips are no big deal, but others can lead to pain, infection, or more serious damage if ignored. That’s why it’s always worth having a dentist you can trust to take a look.
If you’re not sure whether your chipped tooth needs attention, we’ll help you make that call. Schedule an appointment online or call us at 415-477-3700 today.
