Accidents happen; when they do, sometimes your tooth gets the bad end of the deal! Chipping a tooth can be distressing, but don’t worry. Whether you’ve chipped your tooth biting down hard on something or had an unfortunate mishap, at Lister House Dental Centre in Essex, we offer a comprehensive range of services to restore your smile.
So, you’ve chipped a tooth…now what?
First things first. Remain calm. Chipping a tooth is a pretty common occurrence. Here’s what you should do if you’ve just chipped a tooth:
- Use warm water to rinse your mouth and clean the area
- Apply a cold compress to your cheek if you are experiencing any swelling
- Call our dental practice in Essex as soon as possible to schedule an appointment to fix the issue!
Your Options to Fix a Chipped Tooth
There are a few pain-free and quick options that we offer here at Lister House to fix chipped teeth, including:
- Composite Bonding – this treatment involves using a tooth-coloured resin that is moulded around the tooth to restore its original shape. The resin is hardened with a special light, and then the tooth is polished to match the rest of your smile!
- Porcelain Veneers – for larger chips or broken front teeth, we offer bespoke veneers. These thin porcelain coverings fit over the tooth and are glued in place to hide any imperfections, giving you the perfect smile aesthetic!
- Dental Crowns – if the chip is significant or the tooth structure has weakened, your Lister House dentist might recommend a crown. A crown is like a cap that covers the entire tooth to restore its shape and strength.
- Root Canal & Crown – in some cases, a chip might expose the tooth’s pulp, which is the inner part of the tooth, and this might cause an infection. Instead of extracting the infected tooth, our special-interest endodontists can remove the damaged pulp and then place a crown on top, saving your smile! Rest assured at Lister House, root canals are a pain-free and gentle experience.
How to Prevent Chipped Teeth
Of course, the best treatment for a chipped tooth is prevention. Here are our top tips to keep your smile intact:
- Avoid biting down on hard objects, which means you should not open packages with your teeth!
- If you play sports, always wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth from injury.
- Visit our Essex-based dental practice for regular checkups to keep your teeth healthy and strong.