A minor dental fracture like a chipped tooth can result from several different sources. While an oral trauma might damage the hard tooth enamel, you are just as likely to suffer a chipped tooth if you nibble on pens and pencils or if you grind your teeth on a regular basis.
It’s best to have a chipped tooth examined and repaired as soon as possible. The longer you delay the more likely you are to have plaque and bacteria infiltrate the chip, promoting a new cavity.
The severity of the chip in the enamel will determine the repair or restoration method that Dr. Kimberly Fee recommends.
A minor chip can be repaired with a basic filling. If one or more of the teeth in your smile have chips, she might recommend having porcelain dental veneers installed over the face of each tooth.
For a large chip or a more significant dental fracture on a critical part of a tooth, your dentist might recommend restoring the tooth enamel with a dental crown made from either porcelain, gold, or base metal alloy.
In an extreme case, the chipped tooth might also result in damage to the interior pulp. If this is the case, your dentist might need to perform a root canal to restore the damaged structures before mounting a crown.
If you live in the Prescott, Arizona, area and you have suffered a chipped tooth, you should call 928-778-7410 to seek professional care at Kimberly W. Fee DMD.