It has come to your attention that you have chipped your tooth. So now the question that comes to your head is, “What should I do now?” Chipping a tooth can become a very serious problem if not treated in a timely manner, and can lead to serious health issues caused by bad oral health. However, before you go to the dentist, you need to handle some issues related to the chip inside your mouth.
The next steps after chipping a tooth:
Below are just a few helpful ways to help remedy any pain or discomfort inside your mouth before going to see the dentist. Doing these steps can help protect your tooth while you wait for the dentist’s availability.
- Rinse the mouth with warm water.
- Clearing away any debris or blood from around the affected area is the first step to protecting your tooth. Getting rid of these elements while soothing the exposed nerve with warm water can help immensely. Avoid using hot or cold water since the exposed area is sensitive.
- Stop the bleeding and protect the tooth,
- Applying a clean gauze and holding it down with your tongue or biting down gently with your teeth can help keep it clean. Once the bleeding has stopped, apply dental cement to the crack to help keep the nerve from getting exposed.
- Shield parts of your mouth around the chipped tooth.
- Due to the crack or chip being jagged, it can clip at the sides of the cheek, tongue, and possibly the gum. Applying dental wax to the edges of the affected tooth can help avoid these.
- Reduce the swelling and the pain.
- The use of an ice pack on the face or mouth in the area of the chipped tooth helps with the pain and swelling, as well as over-the-counter medicine for a more long-term and stronger effect.
- If still in possession of the chip, preserve it.
- There is a possible chance of the dentist being able to reattach the chip to the tooth. If you can save the chip, preserve it in milk or saliva to keep it from drying out.
After getting to the dentist, there can be a variety of treatment options for the chip or crack, depending on how severe it is.
- Dental bonding is where resin is applied to the tooth as a bond that helps protect the tooth for up to 10 years.
- A dental crown or cap is placed on the top of the tooth and acts as a tooth. The purpose is to shield from any pressure. A crown is usually placed after a root canal, where the infection is removed and replaced with material that cannot get infected.
- Tooth extraction is a possibility where the chip or crack has spread too far to the point where it can’t be fixed, and the tooth needs to be replaced.
In the event that the tooth becomes chipped or cracked, avoid taking too much time without being seen by a dentist. Reach out to your nearest dental clinic for availability or your insurance provider.
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