Damage to teeth, as a rule, occurs quite unexpectedly, which causes a lot of inconvenience. The situation becomes especially dangerous and unpleasant when it is not possible to immediately seek help from a dentist. If a piece of a tooth breaks off, it is important to take some preventive measures on your own that will help prevent further destruction of the enamel and the development of serious oral diseases.

Why do teeth chip?

There are quite a few reasons leading to the problem under consideration:

• tooth damage while eating (nuts, berries with seeds, dried fish, caramel);
• mechanical chips (injuries due to impacts);
• calcium deficiency in the body;
• presence of a crack;
• caries;
• decreased immunity;
• pathologies of internal organs.

There are also cases when the described phenomenon occurs due to a person’s irresponsible attitude towards oral hygiene. For example, if a piece of a tooth with a filling broke off, the incident could have been prevented by visiting the dentist for preventive examinations every 6-8 months.

What to do if a piece of a tooth breaks off?

The necessary actions largely depend on the type of chip:

1. Damage to enamel. This is the most minor destruction that can be easily dealt with. The only danger may be the lack of treatment, which will provoke the gradual destruction of the remaining healthy tissue.
2. Dentitis chip. It does not cause pain, but the defect is very noticeable visually. In this case, filling will not work; extension or restoration will be required.
3. Volumetric chip with exposure of nerve endings. If a tooth breaks off near the gum and it hurts, immediate intervention by a professional doctor is required.

Having discovered the problem in question, you need to immediately contact a specialist. In cases where this is not possible for some reason, you should:

1. Continue brushing your teeth daily, at least 2 times a day.
2. Rinse your mouth frequently with slightly salted water to prevent tooth decay.
3. Use dental floss.
4. After eating, be sure to rinse your mouth thoroughly and ensure that no food remains near the damaged tooth.
5. If you have a large chip in your front tooth, try to find part of it and save it until you visit the doctor. This will help the doctor quickly restore the shape and build up the tooth.
6. If the pain syndrome is severe, especially when nerves are exposed and the pulp is damaged, apply cotton swabs soaked in Lidocaine or Novocaine to the problem area.

Only a dentist can provide real help. Treatment tactics also depend on how badly the tooth is damaged.

For minor chips and destruction of the enamel, filling will be sufficient. The same technique is used if a small piece of a back (molar) tooth has broken off.

Violation of the integrity of dentitis requires more complex and delicate work - restoration. This type of tooth restoration requires careful determining its original size, structure and shape. It is important to choose a material that perfectly matches natural enamel in shade.

If the dentist is dealing with a chip accompanied by exposure of nerve endings and pulp, the canals are completely filled under local anesthesia and the bundle of nerves is removed. The reliability and strength of the tooth area being restored can be increased by installing intracanal pins.

It is worth noting that sometimes it is impossible to restore a tooth. In such cases, it is recommended to install a crown, veneer or implant.

What to do if a piece of a tooth breaks off

There is hardly a person who has managed to avoid such a problem as a chipped tooth throughout his life.

Completely different living conditions and circumstances can cause this problem, but the main thing is to take appropriate measures in time to preserve the tooth and extend its service life.

Causes of chipped teeth

There are many factors that can affect the strength of teeth. Even the slightest deviations in a person’s well-being can affect the enamel, causing it to break off and cause tooth decay. Among the most popular reasons:

There can be many reasons, but if such a nuisance occurs, it is necessary to take prompt action. This will help to at least partially save the tooth.

There are different types of damage

Types of chips are distinguished by the degree of their impact on the tooth:

The photo shows a chipped front tooth enamel.

1. Considered the most harmless chipped enamel. The victim complains of a chipped tooth wall, but does not feel pain. Often in such a situation they do not even go to the dentist. But this is the wrong approach to the problem. The absence of enamel is a direct load on the dental tissue. It is this area that will be most attacked by harmful bacteria. From the negative impact, the affected tooth will begin to rapidly deteriorate. In addition, if the enamel is chipped on the front tooth, then the smile will look unaesthetic.
2. If a piece breaks off, damaged tooth tissue - dentin, then such a chip can also be painless, but dangerous for further functioning. Due to damage, the tissue weakens significantly; mechanical stress causes microcracks to form, which destroy dentin day by day. If you don’t build up a tooth in time, you can lose it completely.
3. The most dangerous type of chip is tooth decay with exposure of nerves. Such damage often occurs when a tooth splits into two parts and it will not go unnoticed, as it is accompanied by severe pain. It is necessary to urgently visit the dentist to avoid introducing bacteria into the tooth and to take measures to restore it.

What to do if a tooth is broken?

If a piece of a tooth breaks off, you should not panic. The situation is not so dangerous as to worry your nerves once again. First of all, you should look at the extent of the damage and build a rough action plan based on this. For mild to moderate chips, you should call the dental clinic and make an appointment.

Chipped tooth with pulp damage

If your nerves are exposed, it is simply pointless to wait for the appointed date, since the pain will not allow you to eat or sleep peacefully. It is better to immediately go to the emergency dentist or, if possible, arrange an emergency visit to the treating dentist.

To reduce pain, you can lubricate the damaged tooth with a swab soaked in novocaine.

If you cannot visit a doctor in the near future, you must carefully observe oral hygiene: brush your teeth twice a day, rinse your mouth with salt water after eating.

Specialist help

No matter how insignificant the chip may seem, in any case it must be shown to a professional in this field to get recommendations and fix the problem.

Dental treatment scares many people, but it is better to immediately repair a tiny crack than to have the tooth removed later.

The dentist will assess the situation with an experienced eye and offer the optimal treatment option, which may differ depending on the nature of the chip and the location of the tooth.

What to do if your front tooth is broken?

The front teeth are visible, so a chipped piece on them can turn into a “disaster” for public people. Depending on how large a piece has broken off, your doctor will recommend different treatment options.

In almost any situation, it is possible to restore a piece of tooth using artistic restoration using composite materials. The dentist will select the color of the restoration paste and apply it in layers, securing each level with light radiation.

An ignorant person will not even understand that the tooth has been augmented. This is one of the most effective and economical methods that will be offered in any clinic. The filling is very resistant and durable, while it matches the color of the teeth and has a natural shine.

The photo shows the restoration of a chipped front tooth with a veneer

A more expensive method of treating a chip is veneer coating. As a rule, it is resorted to in case of significant damage, if it is not possible to build up a filling.

The ceramic coating is applied from the base of the tooth and completely repeats the desired shape. Veneers are strong and durable, and they do not lose their color over time.

If a significant piece breaks off, a crown will be required. Typically, ceramic, cermet or zirconium oxide are used depending on personal preference.

The process of installing a crown is accompanied by its fastening either to the outer teeth or by installing a pin. In prolonged cases, the latter method must be used to treat the front tooth. If you visit the dentist on time, you can get away with only minor intervention.

Treatment of lateral teeth

When treating a lateral or, as it is also called, a posterior tooth, the same methods can be used, but not all of them are justified. Since the side teeth are usually not visible to others, it is enough to eliminate the chip with a filling.

The dentist will use a light-hardening filling to fill in the tooth deficiency, thereby extending its service life.

True, unlike the front teeth, veneers are rarely installed on the side teeth. Even if a very small piece of the tooth wall and root remain, you can build up the remaining part using composite materials or install a crown.

Particular attention should be paid to the problem of exposed nerves. In this case, treatment is first aimed at antiseptic action. If the nerve is damaged, it will be removed in several steps and a tooth will be formed that will last for a long time, even if it is “dead.”

Vertical crack

The most unpleasant thing about chipped teeth is the presence of a vertical crack that touches the pulp, which means restoring the tissue with a filling is not possible. In such cases, patients complain of a tooth split in half, and often one of the halves is loose.

Even a barely noticeable crack can cause enormous damage, not to mention deeper damage. Every day there is pressure on it, so the tooth tissue, although it is imperceptible, is destroyed. Eventually a split will occur, which will cause not only inconvenience, but also, most likely, severe pain.

the tooth is split in half, one half is loose

Small cracks can be “patched” using an enamel restoration procedure. Strengthening the surface of the tooth will extend its service life.

If this does not help, and the microcrack continues to grow, the dentist will suggest strengthening it with veneers or a crown.

Failure to take such measures will result in tooth decay, which, based on statistics, will be impossible to restore. The tooth will be removed and a prosthesis will have to be installed in its place. The same treatment will be carried out if a tooth is split in half.

Damage to a baby tooth

Many parents believe that baby teeth do not need to be treated, since they will still change over time. This misconception especially concerns chips.

Healthy baby teeth are the key to strong teeth in adulthood. If a piece of a baby tooth falls off, it is important to determine the cause of the destruction. Most often the problem lies in injury.

Parents should disinfect the mouth and the chip site and go to the dentist. The dentist will apply a preservation gel and also prescribe treatment that is appropriate in a particular case. Most often, you can get by with a regular filling, which will strengthen the tooth until it falls out.

Chips on teeth are also undesirable for children because they can negatively affect resistance to diseases such as stomatitis. In addition, even increased tooth sensitivity can affect the child’s mood and well-being.

Possible difficulties and problems

The presence of a chip in itself is an unpleasant fact, but if you turn a blind eye to its treatment, you can develop a number of accompanying problems:

1. One of the undesirable consequences is pulp infection. Infected tooth tissue will not only cause severe pain, but may also be completely destroyed, leading to tooth loss.
2. Chips can cause cysts and granulomas.
3. Severe chipping caused by trauma can change the angle of the tooth root. This will cause it to shift, sometimes the entire row will shift, the bite is disturbed. When the root is tilted, the damaged tooth is removed and prosthetics are prescribed so that the dentition does not move from its usual place.
4. The most minor complication is increased tooth sensitivity. A person will react to the temperature of the food and drinks consumed, and discomfort may appear from using the usual hygiene products: toothpaste, mouthwash, refreshing spray.

And although chips do not seem to be a dangerous problem, they must be corrected in a timely manner. It is much more effective to instantly react to the slightest changes, be it a small crack or a minor chip, than to get into a hopeless situation with tooth extraction and further prosthetics.

Chipped tooth - what to do if a piece of enamel breaks off

Has sensitivity recently increased or have you noticed an obvious defect on one of your teeth? How can you determine if you have a chip and what kind of disease is it? Is it worth rushing to the dentist because of it? This article will answer basic questions about the causes of chipped teeth, the severity of the consequences if left untreated, methods for restoring chipped teeth, and preventive measures that will help you prevent this type of tooth damage.

Mechanical reasons for the appearance of a chipped tooth can be accidents when riding a bicycle, rollerblades or skating without appropriate protection, sports equipment getting caught in the jaw while playing active sports (hockey, football, basketball, volleyball), lack of a mouth guard when practicing wrestling, car accidents, trivial falling on a hard object, getting a piece of hard food or a foreign object on a tooth, carelessness of a doctor when treating adjacent teeth, and much more.

There are other reasons why teeth chip. They are most often associated with the general condition of the body: a reduced level of immunity due to frequent illnesses, chronic diseases of internal organs, lack of calcium, fluorine and other minerals and vitamins, non-compliance with basic rules of oral hygiene.

There are also frequent concomitant diseases that can result in a tooth chipping: carious destruction of the crown or walls, crumbling of a filling made from low-quality material, which increases the load on the damaged tooth, a previous injury that led to a weakening or crack of the tooth. All this can affect the integrity of the bone tissue and lead to tooth fracture.

What is a chipped tooth? Tooth enamel, no matter how hard it may seem, is very sensitive to increased levels of acidity in the mouth. As a result of this increase, the acid washes out substances from the bone tissue that make it resistant to external influences, which contributes to the gradual destruction of the tooth. Visually we don’t notice this, but over the years we increasingly react painfully to hot, cold, sour and sweet foods, which means that the condition of the enamel is very deplorable. Microcracks form in it, into which pathogenic bacteria constantly enter, promoting further destruction.

A tooth chip is a mechanical damage to bone tissue, as a result of which a small piece of enamel breaks off, or a larger piece that exposes the dentin layer, or a large part of the tooth covering the pulp. It is worth keeping in mind that not only moderate and severe damage needs treatment. Even a small chip requires attention, since over time it can develop into something more serious.

Treatment of chips

How often does a person start to panic when faced with an unexpected situation? Yes, almost always. It would be very nice to have detailed instructions on hand for all occasions, but, alas, this is not feasible. In this regard, the Internet is an excellent assistant these days. I typed the essence of the problem into a search engine and received an immediate answer. For example, in this article you can find out what to do if a piece of a tooth breaks off.

First of all, don't panic. Even if the damage is quite serious, you first need to pull yourself together. Rinse and disinfect your mouth, remove foreign objects if present, inspect soft tissues for the presence of enamel fragments. If you can't cope on your own, ask someone close to you to help. If, for example, a piece of your front tooth broke off and you found it while rinsing, try to save it until you visit the dentist. Most likely, it will not be possible to heal it, but it will be easier for the doctor to build the tooth back to its original shape.

If you have a serious injury, for example, a chipped tooth under the gum, you should urgently consult a dentist. This way you minimize the risk of further damage to damaged tissues, and not every person is able to endure pain for a long time, and drinking handfuls of strong painkillers is harmful to the body.

Modern dental practice offers many options for artistic restoration and restoration of a chipped tooth. Of course, treating a chipped tooth is not a one-minute procedure and the doctor will have to tinker, but the result is really worth it, since not only the anatomical, but also the aesthetic properties will be restored.

For a small chip, it is quite enough to use a light-curing composite, but if half of the tooth has chipped off, you cannot do without restoration. For example, if there is a chip on the front tooth, using veneers is an excellent option. These are thin ceramic onlays that are made directly to the shape of the patient's tooth. Of course, their production takes some time, but after installation it will be impossible to discern the difference between a natural tooth and a restored one.

For a seriously chipped tooth, restoration can also be done using a crown. Today, metal ceramics are very popular, which in their aesthetic properties is in no way inferior to veneers, and allows you to preserve a damaged tooth for many years, protecting it from external influences and destruction.

In case of the most significant destruction, when the dental pulp is damaged, the doctor will perform depulpation and, if necessary, restore the tooth on a pin to relieve the load on the damaged walls. In some cases, for example, if there is a chipped wisdom tooth that is difficult to reach for treatment, or a chipped tooth that cannot be restored at all, the dentist may suggest that you remove it so as not to waste extra time and money.

So, your tooth has chipped, what should you do? Visit your dentist as soon as possible, since delay allows pathogenic bacteria to penetrate into the damaged area and quickly destroy tooth remnants that can still be restored.

Prevention

What precautions should you take to prevent your tooth from chipping?

• Of course, follow the rules of personal hygiene. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, preferably with toothpastes enriched with fluoride and calcium, especially if you have weak enamel.
• Eat less sugar and more vitamin-rich diet foods, fruits and vegetables.
• Avoid chewing candy, nuts and other hard foods.
• To avoid chipping your front teeth, give up bad habits such as biting thread, holding hard objects in your mouth (pens, pencils, hooks, knitting needles, needles, etc.), biting your nails.
• When practicing active sports and wrestling, use protective equipment.
• Visit the dentist for a preventive examination at least once every six months.

Even a minor mechanical defect can develop into a serious problem over time. This is why it is so important not to put off visiting the dentist.

What to do if a piece of a tooth breaks off, why could this happen, and is it worth removing the damaged unit?

People most often visit a dentist when they experience toothache. There are situations when you should consult a doctor, even if the tooth does not hurt - for example, if there is a chip. It is important to provide timely assistance so that the aesthetic problem does not lead to more serious oral diseases.

Why might a piece of a tooth break off?

Exposure to various factors disrupts the condition of the enamel, which can crack or chip. When a pathology appears, the dentist first determines its cause. Depending on the cause, different methods of hard tissue restoration are used.

The most common factors that cause parts of teeth to break off are:

• lack of microelements, in particular calcium; most often occurs during pregnancy and lactation, as well as in older people;
• injury (fall, blow);
• a decrease in the protective properties of enamel, which occurs with the abuse of sour and sweet foods;
• malocclusion;
• weak immune system;
• hormonal disorders;
• dental diseases (caries, pulpitis, periodontitis);
• improper filling;
• consumption of solid foods (nuts, seeds);
• demineralization of enamel;
• abnormal growth of neighboring units;
• bad habits (smoking, drinking alcohol);
• chronic diseases (diabetes mellitus).

Types of chipped teeth and accompanying symptoms

For different types of chips, different methods of saving teeth are used. Main types:

• enamel damage;
• dentin chip;
• destruction with exposure of the nerve.

Enamel is most susceptible to external factors. Poor cleaning of the oral cavity, consumption of carbohydrate foods and drinks at contrasting temperatures, and the habit of gnawing nuts or seeds lead to its weakening. Cracks and chips appear in the protective layer. As a rule, they do not cause pain, so a visit to the dentist is postponed indefinitely.

This is extremely incorrect behavior; if assistance is not provided in a timely manner, a minor crack in the enamel can lead to the development of serious dental diseases. Harmful microorganisms easily penetrate into open channels and destroy enamel, increasing its sensitivity. In addition, if a piece of the front incisor falls off, aesthetic discomfort appears.

If the dentin is chipped, the damage is more noticeable. Pain may also be absent or appear with pressure. The danger lies in the fact that dentin is located above the pulp and, despite its hardness, its protective properties are much lower than those of enamel. If the broken piece of the unit is not built up in time, the dentin is washed away, exposing the nerve. This leads to the fact that the chipped unit is removed and the tooth is replaced with a prosthesis.

Chipping with pulp exposure is the most dangerous type. When the nerve is unprotected, bacteria easily penetrate into the soft tissue, causing inflammation. Severe pain appears, which is briefly relieved with painkillers. The injury requires an immediate visit to the doctor, since the unit functions for about 5 hours, then it dies. It is necessary to remove the pulp and clean the canals. Most often, restoration is recommended after the procedure.

First aid at home

Methods for restoring front, side and back teeth

Methods for restoring a damaged unit depend on:

• nature of the chip;
• places of damage in the dentition.

When a large piece is chipped and dentin is damaged, crowns are installed. This method is the most common, since there is a huge selection of materials used (glass-ceramic, zirconium), which people of different incomes can afford.

A small chip is restored using overlays. This is a long procedure in which a special material is inserted into a piece of tooth. If the nerve is damaged, depulpation is performed. The method allows you to stop inflammation and maintain the health of the dentition.

The method of restoring chips on the front incisors depends on the degree of damage:

1. If a small piece of a tooth breaks off, extension is carried out using composite materials. Each applied layer is illuminated with light, and then the remaining part of the tooth is given the required shape. The procedure is painless, restoration occurs in one visit. Sometimes the veneering method is used. A veneer is an overlay that is glued to the outside of the unit, imitating enamel. The material is strong and durable, its color does not change over time.
2. If the internal layers are damaged, a crown (fixed to the outer incisors) or an implant is installed, after cleaning the canals.
3. In case of a vertical crack that touches a nerve, an enamel restoration procedure is performed or a veneer is installed. With this pathology, half of the unit may fall off. It is impossible to fill such a tooth.

The lateral incisors are restored in the same way as the front ones. The lateral teeth do not cause aesthetic discomfort, so ordinary filling material is used for restoration. Veneers are not installed on such incisors.

Posterior molars are completely hidden from view, so they are restored using methods that preserve the functionality of the tooth. If the tooth has broken off slightly, it is restored using composite materials or ceramic inlays. In case of serious damage to the chewing teeth, crowns, bridges or implants are installed.

What to do if a chip forms on a child’s baby tooth?

Most often, baby teeth are damaged as a result of trauma. If an incisor breaks off, parents are in no hurry to take their child to the dentist. This decision may negatively impact the health of permanent units. In addition, due to injury, sensitivity and the risk of developing stomatitis may increase, which will affect the child’s well-being and mood. Treatment is carried out by applying a filling material or preservation gel to the damaged unit.

What to do when chipped:

• stop the crying of a frightened child (explain why it hurt);
• rinse the baby's mouth with warm water;
• disinfect soft tissues;
• do not throw away the broken piece;
• take the child to the dentist.

In what cases is removal of a damaged tooth indicated?

In other cases, a procedure is used to remove damaged pieces followed by restoration. Before removal, you need to undergo an examination and take a photograph of the oral cavity.

Possible complications of untimely treatment

If a unit breaks off, you should visit your dentist as soon as possible. A chipped incisor brings aesthetic discomfort and also increases the risk of developing dental diseases:

Preventing chipped teeth

To avoid cracks and chips in the enamel, you must adhere to the following tips:

• Eat right. Limit your intake of fast carbohydrates, eat vegetables and fruits.
• Brush your teeth morning and evening. Use the right brush and toothpaste.
• Clean the interdental spaces with floss. Use mouthwash.
• Strengthen your immune system.
• Stop smoking and alcohol.
• Do not chew candy, nuts, or seeds.
• Treat dental diseases in a timely manner.
• Do not delay in correcting your malocclusion.
• Visit your dentist regularly.

What to do if a piece of a tooth breaks off?

During their life, almost everyone has at least once encountered the problem of dental damage.

In most cases, we simply do not notice this - upon closer examination, you can see that there are multiple chips and scratches on the enamel.

In fact, these are all phenomena of the same order with more significant injuries - fractures and so on. We will tell you in more detail what should be done when such a problem is detected, as well as what are the causes of “breakdowns”.

Causes and types of chips

Knowing the cause of a chipped tooth is important for the dentist, who will handle the restoration. This is necessary in order to to choose the right treatment and restoration techniques.

What causes chips to appear?

• Injuries– blows, falls, etc.
• Long lasting and significant decrease in acidity level in the oral cavity.
• Process demineralization of enamel, greatly weakening it.
• Abnormal bite changes.
• Bad habits.
• Various diseases that weaken teeth.
• Hormonal disorders.

Minor injuries can occur almost every day, especially if the enamel is weakened - chewing caramel, simultaneous consumption of hot and very cold food or drinks, and so on.

All this subsequently leads to the fact that pieces can break off from the teeth, noticeable without special means.

Proper nutrition is also important. This is the only way the body receives a sufficient amount of minerals and trace elements necessary for healthy, strong enamel.

Otherwise, demineralization greatly weakens the protection of teeth. and can lead to the fact that even a slight and almost imperceptible injury will cause tooth breakage.

Varieties

This point is also important for future restoration.

Depending on how badly the tooth is damaged, various techniques and methods are used to restore the aesthetic and functional components.

There are three degrees of severity of damage– minimal, medium and heavy.

Depending on what kind of damage is detected, it is classified as one of the types and appropriate measures are taken. The answer to the question of what to do will be different if a small piece of a tooth breaks off or a significant part of it is injured.

• Incomplete chips are cracks or scratches in enamel.
• Chip affecting only the surface layer is enamel.
• Damage resulting in dentin affected(the hard part of the tooth, in fact, its base).
• Chips and fractures that open the internal areas, that is, the pulp.

Among these varieties, the first two (affecting only the enamel) are considered minimal injuries. Medium ones are deeper, affecting dentin, and heavy ones affect the pulp.

Chips and cracks

Minor damage that most often appear on the front teeth and arise due to the careless attitude of the person himself. Biting into inappropriate things (for example, hard caramel and nuts), constant consumption of high-carbohydrate foods - all this over time leads to a weakening of the natural protection - enamel.

Because similar damage in most cases for a long time do not cause any particular inconvenience and are not felt at all, patients do not go to the dentist. However, this is not correct as it can lead to more serious problems in the future.

Read how to properly care for your teeth. Recommendations for adults and children.

In the next article we will discuss whether laser whitening is harmful.

Dentin chips

Immediately below the enamel is dentin. Quite often, a broken piece will expose this inner layer.

Dentin, although a hard tissue, does not have the same protection as enamel. In addition, when dentin is exposed under pressure, a painful reaction may occur, since the pulp with nerve endings is located directly underneath it.

Pulp-exposing chip

Painkillers in this case can only bring short-term relief.

Treatment for front row injuries

As already mentioned, chips most often occur on the front teeth. They are used for biting, and the front of the face accounts for most of the herbs of a household nature.

What does it have to do with Any options are possible, from the smallest cracks to complete fracture of the entire coronal part.

Treatment options depend on the complexity of the damage.

Extensions using composite materials

Used in cases of minor fractures and enamel chips, which do not affect the inner layers of the tooth.

The materials used here are the same as for filling. are composites that acquire their final solid form under the influence of directed light radiation.

The procedure is painless and goes quite quickly. The doctor applies the material in layers directly to the damaged area, having previously prepared it. The patient receives the finished result – a full-fledged tooth – immediately in one appointment.

Use of veneers and lumineers

This thin overlays, which replace the facial part of the front and several lateral teeth. They are glued to the prepared ground crown part.


Externally, they completely imitate tooth enamel.

The difference between veneers and lumineers is small - the latter are very thin. To install them, only minimal turning of the base is carried out.

Restoration with crowns

The installation of a crown is carried out in cases where the inner layers of the tooth are damaged, and the crown part is broken off quite strongly - about half the length.

Before this, the pulp is removed, the root canals are cleaned and filled.

Implant installation

Implantation – the most reliable method of restoration, which is used if the coronal part is completely destroyed and there is no possibility of installing a stump tab in the root canal.

On the posterior chewing surfaces - how doctors can help

For back teeth The same techniques are used as for the front. However, despite the impossibility of installing veneers, there are much more choices here.

There is no need for perfect aesthetics, since the molars are not visible when talking and communicating. Only future functionality matters.

Restoration with composite materials

Often, chipped parts of the chewing teeth are covered with a composite used for filling. Sharp edges can simply be sharpened with special tools so as not to injure soft tissues.

If the chip also affects the chewing part, ceramic inlays are used that perfectly restore the surface, repeating all its curves.

Crowns, bridges and implants

If the damage is serious, then it is advisable to use crowns or bridges for the chewing back teeth. And implantation, as well as for the front row, is the most reliable and durable method of restoring serious injuries.

If we talk only about the back teeth, then it is worth noting that “wisdom teeth”, that is, the eighth teeth, the last in the row, in most cases are not restored in case of severe damage.

They do not bear a serious load, so restoration of minor damage is carried out, but the installation of crowns or implants is not.

What to do at home

Of course, there's only so much you can do at home. Especially when you consider the first shock after the injury, the lack of qualified help, the pain or fear for the child.

However, everyone, knowing what exactly should be done, will be able to take measures to prevent the damaged tooth from hurting, provide first aid and pre-medical aid to avoid possible problems.

• The first and very important rule is no need to panic, all such problems can be solved quite quickly using modern techniques.
• What follows is mandatory rinse your mouth thoroughly either lukewarm water or a weak saline solution. This is necessary to remove food debris, dirt, blood and chipped enamel particles.
• Such rinsing will need to be done two to three times a day until you see a doctor. In this case, brushing your teeth twice (morning and evening) is also mandatory. You just need to be careful, especially at the site of damage.
• If possible, you should find and save a chipped piece of tooth. This applies to quite significant damage. With the help of this piece, the doctor will be able to restore the original shape of the crown much faster and more efficiently.
• If you experience severe pain, you should, first of all, not postpone your visit to a specialist. However, it is temporarily possible relieve pain with strong painkillers.

For example, a tampon soaked in novocaine works quite effectively. Such a tampon is simply applied to the problem area for a while.

In addition, you can also use natural propolis or a validol tablet, applying them to the sore spot.

Additionally, you should disinfect possible cuts, scratches and other damage to the oral mucosa, as well as on the lips. This will prevent infection from entering the blood.

In case of severe damage, when the tooth is loose (perhaps the root is broken), you need to fix it in the correct position. To do this, it is enough to gently, but quite firmly, squeeze your jaws. It is better to apply a cold compress on top.

Don't know how to properly brush your teeth with braces? Read in the new publication!

In a separate article, we will talk about the benefits of using tea tree essential oil to whiten enamel.

Possible complications

Despite the first aid provided at home, it is necessary to seek advice from a dental clinic at the first opportunity. Indeed, in addition to the inconveniences associated solely with the aesthetic side of the issue, in some cases serious complications may arise:

• Penetration of infections into the pulp and development of the inflammatory process.
• Essential sensitivity enhancement in the area of ​​damage.
• Bend and fracture of the root, which can cause periodontitis or other problems.
• Mobility.
• Malocclusion(correct closure of the dentition).
• Development of cysts or granulomas.

To avoid this, it is necessary to take an x-ray and make sure there are no abnormalities. If they do exist, then if appropriate treatment is started soon, more serious complications can be avoided.

For information about the possibilities of teeth restoration with veneers after injuries, watch the video:

Restoration price

The cost of restoring a broken tooth primarily depends on the degree of damage.. Accordingly, the doctor advises the patient one or more restorative techniques that are suitable in this case:

• Restoration of chips and cracks using the direct method and the use of composite light-curing materials - from 2.5 to 6-7 thousand rubles.
• Restorative inlays and onlays– from 5 to 16 thousand rubles.
• Veneer for one tooth b – from 21 to 35 thousand.
• Veneer produced by Cerinate, USA (lumineer) - from 38 to 45 thousand rubles.
• Metal-ceramic crown– from 10 to 25 thousand.
• Metal-free crown based on zirconium dioxide– from 30 thousand and above.
• Implantation– from 28–30 to 50–60 thousand.

This is not a complete list of all possible types of restoration of a broken tooth. Here approximate prices for the most popular and in demand services are given.

It should be borne in mind that clinical cases vary greatly, and in some cases you may need to pay for additional services. In addition, each dental clinic has its own pricing policy.

If a person has a piece of his front or chewing tooth chipped, the main thing he should not do is ignore the chip.

Otherwise, you may lose the entire tooth. It is also impossible to solve the problem on your own without qualified help. The most reasonable solution is to contact a dentist as soon as possible and restore the integrity of the dental unit.

Why do teeth chip?

• Enamel is one of the hardest tissues of the human body. It consists of:
• inorganic substances (about 96%);
• water (about 3%);

organic substances (1%): enamelins, amelogenins.

The thickness of the enamel can reach 2.5 mm, regardless of the patient’s gender. This tissue does not contain collagen and is therefore incapable of regeneration. With age and with a lack of vitamins, it becomes thinner, as a result of which even an ordinary apple can cause tooth enamel to chip.

• Chips on teeth appear for several main reasons. If the dentist can identify the cause of the defect, treatment will be effective, otherwise further dental problems may occur. Standard reasons why pieces of teeth fall off include:
• mechanical damage due to injury, falling, biting too hard foods (nuts, caramel);
• weakened enamel;
• hormonal imbalance;
• demineralization of dental tissues – enamel and dentin;
• low acidity in the mouth;
• damaged filling;
• abnormal bite: deep, gnathic, crossbite;
• presence of dental diseases: pulpitis, caries, periodontal disease;

weak immune system.

If the doctor correctly diagnoses the cause of a chipped tooth, he will not only be able to correct the existing defect, but also prevent the further formation of dental pathologies.

Symptoms and diagnosis

“Victims” will quickly find out about the appearance of a chip on the front tooth. This defect is clearly visible, so it is easily detected even in the absence of pain. It is more difficult to notice damage to the rear molar: part of the enamel or filling can be broken off and accidentally swallowed along with food, and microcracks are not at all visible to the naked eye, so a person should focus not only on the visual characteristics of the dentition, but also on the sensations during conversation and eating .

• If a person has lost part of a tooth, he can find out about it by the following symptoms:
• increased sensitivity to cold or hot;
• pain on palpation;

The first place in diagnosing the cause of a chip is occupied by a simple visual inspection. The dentist collects anamnesis, clarifies the circumstances under which the defect occurred, and examines the problem area. In most cases, the cause is identified immediately, so additional diagnostics are only rarely required.

If it is difficult for the dentist to determine the cause of the chip during a routine visual examination, he will have to resort to additional diagnostic methods:

• radiovisiography;
• CT scan;
• dental camera images (allow you to find the deepest caries);
• study of tissues in a dental microscope;
• examination of the pulp with an Apex Locator;
• laboratory tests blood tests.

Types of chips

All dental chips can be divided into several types:

• microcrack in the enamel (the easiest way to fix it);
• chipped enamel;
• dentin chip;
• chip to the pulp chamber.

Lack of dental care in all of these cases can result in complete loss of the chipped tooth.

First aid at home

If a person’s tooth falls off, the list of actions that he can perform at home will depend on the nature of the defect. If a person does not feel pain or severe discomfort, then he can simply make an appointment with his dentist or come to an appointment with the doctor on duty. If, due to a chip, a tooth hurts, bleeding occurs, and the gums become inflamed, then before visiting the dentist you can:

• relieve pain with painkillers: Ketanov, Nurofen, Ibuklin, Analgin;
• rinse your mouth with herbal infusion or a solution of soda and salt;
• carefully close the chipped area (with cotton wool or chewing gum);
• apply a gauze or cotton swab to stop the bleeding;
• if it gets worse, but there is no way to call an ambulance right now or go to a dental clinic, take an anti-inflammatory drug.

Methods for restoring and treating chipped tooth enamel

Some patients are afraid to go to the dentist because they think that he will immediately remove the broken tooth. But the first thing a dentist will do with a tooth that has chipped is to try to save it (with the exception of wisdom teeth).

If the dental root is not inflamed, then the dentist will not remove a molar just because it is chipped. But the longer the patient delays visiting the doctor, the more likely the tooth becomes infected with caries and loses it.

Classic treatment

Treatment for a chipped tooth depends on the nature of the damage. The following methods are distinguished:

Simultaneously with the treatment of the chip, it is recommended to correct the patient’s bite in order to minimize the risk of further development of the pathology.

Enamel restoration

If the damage is detected at an early stage and affects only the surface layer of the tooth - the enamel, then you can try to restore it. There are two main methods of enamel restoration:

• remineralization;
• fluoridation.

Remineralization

When using this method of tooth restoration, its upper dental layer is treated with special preparations with microelements. The problematic molar is covered with a special protective film and is not destroyed under the influence of external factors.

Fluoridation

In this case, the tooth surface is coated with preparations containing fluoride. The procedure can be carried out at home, after consulting with a doctor. This method is not used for serious dental pathologies.

Innovative restoration technologies

If a patient's tooth has chipped off, the doctor may suggest that the defect be eliminated with the help of:

• fiberglass, which has excellent characteristics and imitates natural tooth enamel as naturally as possible;
• Glasspan technology, which consists of restoring the front teeth using a ceramic ligament;
• functional and cosmetic restoration of chipped areas.

Chips during pregnancy: why and what to do

If, as a result of hormonal changes and calcium leaching, a piece of a tooth breaks off in a pregnant woman, she should immediately consult a dentist. You can undergo dental treatment from the 12th week of pregnancy, therefore, if a woman has a chipped part of her tooth, she has no reason to hesitate and endanger herself and the child.

Any crack in the enamel can cause the development of caries, pulpitis and other dental diseases, which will subsequently have to be treated with the use of strong anesthetics and antibiotics. Therefore, it is better to restore the chipped area of ​​the tooth immediately after it is damaged.

Halogen lamps and burs are not harmful to the body of a pregnant woman. If a small piece breaks off from a tooth, you can treat it without anesthesia, otherwise you will need to inform your doctor about your pregnancy so that he can select an anesthetic drug without adrenaline. If a chipped tooth is not treated before the baby is born, the newborn baby may develop dysbacteriosis or another disease associated with caries.

Chips of baby teeth

In young children, baby (and sometimes molar) teeth often break off. Most often, this is caused by impacts or falls on the floor. If the child is injured, you should calm him down and then go to the dental clinic. The baby tooth will be cured or permanently removed depending on the severity of the pathology. The chip cannot be left unattended.

Even a small crack in the enamel can cause inflammation in the oral cavity. It may be associated with sore throats and frequent acute respiratory viral infections. Due to chipping, there is a risk of developing pathologies of the digestive and respiratory systems. Advanced caries, which appears on baby teeth due to chips and cracks, can lead to problems with molars and malocclusion.

Broken tooth under crown

Signs of a chipped or broken tooth under a crown:

• the crown with the stump or half of it broke off;
• the crown wobbles at the slightest mechanical impact;
• the tooth under the crown began to hurt;
• gums are swollen.

If only a piece of a tooth breaks off, it can be saved. But you will definitely have to throw away the old crown, because:

• the crown has been damaged since the break;
• During dental treatment, additional procedures will be required that will change the physical characteristics of the crown.

A tooth with a chipped crown is treated using standard methods and covered with a new crown.

What not to do if a tooth chips and falls out

Here is a list of what not to do if a piece of your chewing or front tooth breaks off:

• rinse your mouth with alcohol-containing drinks;
• glue pieces of enamel back onto the chewing surface;
• take antibiotics to prevent inflammation;
• smear the gums and the chipped area with brilliant green;
• plug the hole with cotton wool and forget about it.

Prevention

The most common reasons why teeth break off are insufficient oral hygiene, vitamin deficiency and excessive mechanical (chewing) loads.

• Therefore, as a preventative measure you should:
• quit smoking, as the harmful substances contained in cigarette smoke have a detrimental effect on the condition of the enamel;
• Healthy food;
• protect tooth enamel, do not crack nuts or crack seeds;
• take vitamins and minerals;

visit the dentist for preventive purposes.

There is hardly a person who has managed to avoid such a problem as a chipped tooth throughout his life.

Completely different living conditions and circumstances can cause this problem, but the main thing is to take appropriate measures in time to preserve the tooth and extend its service life.

Causes of chipped teeth

There are many factors that can affect the strength of teeth. Even the slightest deviations in a person’s well-being can affect the enamel, causing it to break off and cause tooth decay. Among the most popular reasons:

There can be many reasons, but if such a nuisance occurs, it is necessary to take prompt action. This will help to at least partially save the tooth.

There are different types of damage

Types of chips are distinguished by the degree of their impact on the tooth:

The photo shows a chipped front tooth enamel.

1. It is considered the most harmless. The victim complains of a chipped tooth wall, but does not feel pain. Often in such a situation they do not even go to the dentist. But this is the wrong approach to the problem. The absence of enamel is a direct load on the dental tissue. It is this area that will be most attacked by harmful bacteria. From the negative impact, the affected tooth will begin to rapidly deteriorate. In addition, if the enamel is chipped on the front tooth, then the smile will look unaesthetic.
2. If a piece breaks off, damaged tooth tissue - dentin, then such a chip can also be painless, but dangerous for further functioning. Due to damage, the tissue weakens significantly; mechanical stress causes microcracks to form, which destroy dentin day by day. If you don’t build up a tooth in time, you can lose it completely.
3. The most dangerous type of chip is tooth decay with exposure of nerves. Such damage often occurs when a tooth splits into two parts and it will not go unnoticed, as it is accompanied by severe pain. It is necessary to urgently visit the dentist to avoid introducing bacteria into the tooth and to take measures to restore it.

What to do if a tooth is broken?

If a piece of a tooth breaks off, you should not panic. The situation is not so dangerous as to worry your nerves once again. First of all, you should look at the extent of the damage and build a rough action plan based on this. For mild to moderate chips, you should call the dental clinic and make an appointment.

Chipped tooth with pulp damage

If your nerves are exposed, it is simply pointless to wait for the appointed date, since the pain will not allow you to eat or sleep peacefully. It is better to immediately go to the emergency dentist or, if possible, arrange an emergency visit to the treating dentist.

To reduce pain, you can lubricate the damaged tooth with a swab soaked in novocaine.

If you cannot visit a doctor in the near future, you must carefully observe oral hygiene: brush your teeth twice a day, rinse your mouth with salt water after eating.

Specialist help

No matter how insignificant the chip may seem, in any case it must be shown to a professional in this field to get recommendations and fix the problem.

Dental treatment scares many people, but it is better to immediately repair a tiny crack than to have the tooth removed later.

The dentist will assess the situation with an experienced eye and offer the optimal treatment option, which may differ depending on the nature of the chip and the location of the tooth.

What to do if your front tooth is broken?

The front teeth are visible, so a chipped piece on them can turn into a “disaster” for public people. Depending on how large a piece has broken off, your doctor will recommend different treatment options.

In almost any situation, it is possible to restore a piece of tooth using artistic restoration using composite materials. The dentist will select the color of the restoration paste and apply it in layers, securing each level with light radiation.

An ignorant person will not even understand that the tooth has been augmented. This is one of the most effective and economical methods that will be offered in any clinic. The filling is very resistant and durable, while it matches the color of the teeth and has a natural shine.

The photo shows the restoration of a chipped front tooth with a veneer

A more expensive method of treating a chip is veneer coating. As a rule, it is resorted to in case of significant damage, if it is not possible to build up a filling.

The ceramic coating is applied from the base of the tooth and completely repeats the desired shape. strong and durable, while they do not lose their color over time.

If a significant piece breaks off, a crown will be required. Typically, ceramic, cermet or zirconium oxide are used depending on personal preference.

The process of installing a crown is accompanied by its fastening either to the outer teeth or by installing a pin. In prolonged cases, the latter method must be used to treat the front tooth. If you visit the dentist on time, you can get away with only minor intervention.

Treatment of lateral teeth

When treating a lateral or, as it is also called, a posterior tooth, the same methods can be used, but not all of them are justified. Since the side teeth are usually not visible to others, it is enough to eliminate the chip with a filling.

The dentist will use a light-hardening filling to fill in the tooth deficiency, thereby extending its service life.

True, unlike the front teeth, veneers are rarely installed on the side teeth. Even if a very small piece of the tooth wall and root remain, you can build up the remaining part using composite materials or install a crown.

Particular attention should be paid to the problem of exposed nerves. In this case, treatment is first aimed at antiseptic action. If the nerve is damaged, it will be removed in several steps and a tooth will be formed that will last for a long time, even if it is “dead.”

Vertical crack

The most unpleasant thing about chipped teeth is the presence of a vertical crack that touches the pulp, which means restoring the tissue with a filling is not possible. In such cases, patients complain of a tooth split in half, and often one of the halves is loose.

Even a barely noticeable crack can cause enormous damage, not to mention deeper damage. Every day there is pressure on it, so the tooth tissue, although it is imperceptible, is destroyed. Eventually a split will occur, which will cause not only inconvenience, but also, most likely, severe pain.

the tooth is split in half, one half is loose

Small cracks can be “patched” using an enamel restoration procedure. Strengthening the surface of the tooth will extend its service life.

If this does not help, and the microcrack continues to grow, the dentist will suggest strengthening it with veneers or a crown.

Failure to take such measures will result in tooth decay, which, based on statistics, will be impossible to restore. The tooth will be removed and a prosthesis will have to be installed in its place. The same treatment will be carried out if a tooth is split in half.

Damage to a baby tooth

Many parents believe that baby teeth do not need to be treated, since they will still change over time. This misconception especially concerns chips.

Healthy baby teeth are the key to strong teeth in adulthood. If a piece of a baby tooth falls off, it is important to determine the cause of the destruction. Most often the problem lies in injury.

Parents should disinfect the mouth and the chip site and go to the dentist. The dentist will apply a preservation gel and also prescribe treatment that is appropriate in a particular case. Most often, you can get by with a regular filling, which will strengthen the tooth until it falls out.

Chips on teeth are also undesirable for children because they can negatively affect resistance to diseases such as stomatitis. In addition, even increased tooth sensitivity can affect the child’s mood and well-being.

Possible difficulties and problems

The presence of a chip in itself is an unpleasant fact, but if you turn a blind eye to its treatment, you can develop a number of accompanying problems:

1. One of the undesirable consequences is pulp infection. Infected tooth tissue will not only cause severe pain, but may also be completely destroyed, leading to tooth loss.
2. Chips can cause cysts and granulomas.
3. Severe chipping caused by trauma can change the angle of the tooth root. This will cause it to shift, sometimes the entire row will shift, the bite is disturbed. When the root is tilted, the damaged tooth is removed and prosthetics are prescribed so that the dentition does not move from its usual place.
4. The most minor complication is increased tooth sensitivity. A person will react to the temperature of the food and drinks consumed, and discomfort may appear from using the usual hygiene products: toothpaste, mouthwash, refreshing spray.

And although chips do not seem to be a dangerous problem, they must be corrected in a timely manner. It is much more effective to instantly react to the slightest changes, be it a small crack or a minor chip, than to get into a hopeless situation with tooth extraction and further prosthetics.

Violation of the integrity of the tooth surface is a fairly common problem that cannot be solved on your own. Especially often, people are faced with a situation where a piece of a tooth has broken off. Our expert dentist will help you figure out what to do in this case.

In order to prescribe the correct treatment, the dentist first needs to determine the exact cause of the chip. The main factors include:

• trauma at home;
• broken bite;
• untreated dental pathologies;
• presence of bad habits;
• hormonal disorders;
• destruction of enamel;
• weakened immune system.

Chips that were received as a result of an impact or fall are considered traumatic. Dental tissue is often destroyed by biting nails, pens, or doing things they were not designed to do, such as tying knots or opening bottles.

Eating too hot or cold foods also contributes to the destruction of enamel. A high carbohydrate content in the diet reduces acidity in the oral cavity, and smoking and drinking alcohol worsens the condition of dental tissue. Her health also depends on her diet.

If the human body suffers from a deficiency of essential vitamins and microelements, as a rule, the strength of the enamel is damaged and pieces of teeth break off much more often. Compliance with the principles of a balanced diet and regular monitoring by a dentist reduces the likelihood of these problems occurring.

The cause of chipping can be hormonal imbalance, pregnancy, or diabetes. Even small deviations in human health can cause chipping. Often the reason why a part of a tooth breaks off or the integrity of the bone tissue is damaged can be a concomitant disease, for example, caries.

Uncorrected malocclusions often cause injury to dental tissue. This occurs with bruxism (night grinding of teeth) or chewing food. The risk of chipping increases due to rapid wear of the enamel, as bruxism causes erratic jaw movements at night.

The first sign that chipping is possible is the occurrence of pain, as well as a sharp increase in the sensitivity of the enamel to cold or hot food.

Now we’ll tell you what to do if a piece of a tooth breaks off - consult a dentist. After establishing the causes of the incident, he will not only restore the damaged part, but also prescribe additional treatment.

What needs to be done right away

If the integrity of a tooth is damaged, the actions depend on the nature of the damage. If the pain does not cause severe discomfort, you just need to make an appointment with the dentist. If your tooth hurts, your gums become inflamed, or you start bleeding, before going to the dentist you should:

1. Rinse your mouth with warm water, herbal infusion or salt solution. This will help remove fragments of the damaged tooth and food debris, and prevent infection, which can cause inflammation.
2. If tissues bleed, place a gauze swab in the mouth for 10-15 minutes. A piece of ice or a compress moistened with cold water is applied to the area of ​​the chip that was caused by the blow. These actions will stop the formation of edema and eliminate pain.
3. Avoid eating cold, too warm and hard foods in order to prevent the development of pain and reduce chewing activity.
4. Relieve pain using analgesics. The most effective are Ibuprofen, Analgin, Paracetamol.
5. Remove the debris if it remains in the gum. It is carefully removed with your fingers yourself or with the help of loved ones, and then the damaged area is treated with an antiseptic.

Sometimes you can hear that if part of a front tooth has broken off and it was discovered when rinsing the mouth, then it is better to save it until visiting a doctor. This is not true: the dentist does not need it.

Methods for restoring tooth integrity

Even if you receive a minor injury and there is no severe pain, the chip should be shown to a dentist, who will give recommendations and offer the necessary treatment option. What the dentist will do if a tooth chips directly depends on the nature of the damage and location.

If a small piece of a front tooth falls off, you can try to restore it using the method using composite materials. This is the most economical and effective treatment option (estimated price - from 4 to 10 thousand rubles). The specialist selects the color of the paste, applies it in layers, building up the missing piece.

Each stage of composite application is secured with light radiation. In case of significant damage and when extensions are not possible, veneer coating is used. The doctor applies it from the base of the tooth, completely repeating the lost shape. This is a very strong and durable material that does not lose its color. Typically, a crown is required when a large piece has chipped or crumbled.

To treat a chewing tooth, the same methods are often used (with the exception of veneering). Since chewing molars are not visible to others, it will be enough to eliminate the violation with a filling. The missing piece will be built up using a light-hardening filling.

If a baby tooth is damaged, even if it is only slightly chipped, parents should first disinfect the child’s oral cavity and then go to the doctor. He will treat the chip site with a prophylactic gel and prescribe treatment. In most cases, a conventional filling is used, which helps strengthen the bone tissue until the baby teeth fall out and the molars erupt.

Restoring chipped wisdom teeth makes little sense because they are not involved in the chewing process. Most often they are simply removed.

If a tooth chips during pregnancy, a woman should consult a doctor as soon as possible. You can undergo treatment without complications for the fetus from the beginning of the second trimester. The use of halogen lamps and hogs does not harm the body of the expectant mother. When the chip is insignificant, restoration can be carried out without using anesthesia. In case of large damage, it is necessary to warn the dentist about pregnancy. He will select a drug that does not contain adrenaline. Dental tissues that are not treated before the birth of the child can cause dysbiosis in the newborn.

The treatment method for molars depends on the degree of injury and its location. In case of damage, fillings are installed on the inner wall, and composite materials are used on the outer wall.

Minor damage to the chewing surface is usually filled. The use of core inlays with crowns restores integrity violations that make up more than half of the area, especially on chewing molars.

Situations often occur when half a tooth breaks off, and the remaining part inside becomes black. The diagnosis is made after undergoing X-ray diagnostics and most often the tooth is removed. In the best case, only its roots are preserved, the canals are cleaned and sealed. Only then is it possible to install the crown on the pin.

Preventive actions

The most likely causes of chipping are poor oral hygiene, vitamin deficiency and excessive chewing loads. Therefore, prevention of its occurrence is primarily aimed at strengthening bone tissue.

1. Stop smoking, since harmful substances, which are contained in large quantities in cigarette smoke, negatively affect the condition of the enamel, weakening it.
2. Adhere to a balanced diet and limit the consumption of sweet and hard foods (nuts and candies), as well as carbonated drinks. The diet should consist of fruits and vegetables.
3. Strictly observe the rules of personal hygiene. Brush your teeth at least twice a day using a toothpaste enriched with fluoride or calcium. It will help strengthen tooth enamel.
4. Use special protective equipment when engaging in active sports.
5. Visit the dentist regularly (at least once every 6 months) for a preventive examination.
6. Give up bad habits that destroy the tooth surface (biting thread, biting nails).
7. Treat concomitant diseases in a timely manner.

Information about what to do if a tooth chips may not be necessary if you follow the rules to prevent such a situation from occurring. It will reduce the risk of caries and other pathologies, and will also preserve its natural color for a long time.

Unfortunately, any even minor damage to the enamel or a small chip of a tooth will sooner or later lead to its destruction. If the pain was a one-time occurrence, it is necessary to restore the damaged tooth in any case. Otherwise, the inflammatory process can cause various complications.

29.12.2017

Often, when a piece of a tooth breaks off, people do nothing until it turns into a real problem that will cause discomfort. In fact, you should immediately consult a doctor, because the chip may be accompanied by other disorders that require treatment.

How and why do teeth chip?

We often notice a chip if a large piece breaks off, for example, a fang or incisor. But if the injury is small, not everyone can identify it when looking in the mirror. But there are additional signs by which you can judge the problem, and among them:

• Increased sensitivity;
• Bleeding and swelling of the gums;
• Soreness.

Such signs may manifest themselves differently in everyone, depending on how far the negative process has gone. So, pain appears quite rarely, for example, with severe irritation. But if a large area breaks off, then they are strong and permanent. In general, there are 3 types of such destruction:

• Chip on enamel;
• Crack in a tooth;
• Dentin chips.

When a tooth just begins to chip and a small crack forms, a person does not feel any discomfort. But a chip in the enamel can sometimes cause inconvenience in the form of painful sensations when the tooth is exposed to cold and heat. But in most cases, only when the main layer of the tooth - dentin - is damaged does the damage really make itself felt. And unpleasant sensations constantly appear when chewing overly sour or hot food.

Note that an incisor or molar may even completely split, but the loss of only a small area is not excluded. In general, if the molar pulp is exposed, then it is almost impossible to restore the crown; the tooth has to be completely removed.

Causes

The question of why teeth chip off worries many, especially when it comes to children’s teeth. Not only does this bring some aesthetic discomfort; but often the surrounding tissues are also injured, and this can be much more dangerous. There are several most common reasons why a person’s tooth may break off:

• As a result of injury;
• Anomaly or pathology;
• Lack of useful elements, such as calcium;
• Hormone imbalance;
• Reduced immunity.

In addition, according to some scientists, teeth can chip due to the fact that the acidity in the mouth is reduced. Often, the tips of the incisor also break off when trying to bite through something hard.

What to do if a tooth chips?

If such a problem occurs with a chewing or canine tooth, you should immediately consult a doctor. However, first you need to think about hygiene: rinse your mouth thoroughly with boiled water at room temperature. And then it is better to act in the following sequence:

1. If blood is flowing, then apply a cotton swab to this area;
2. If dental creams or ointments are available, use them to relieve inflammation;
3. Apply something cold to the area;
4. Take a painkiller.

But even if the chipped tooth does not bother you, you still need to go to the doctor: the dentist must make sure that the inflammatory process has not begun or another pathology is developing. The easiest way is if a piece of the tooth breaks off near the front tooth, in this case, the need to visit the dentist arises only to restore the desired aesthetic effect.

Treatment and recovery at the dentist

To correct the situation, there are many techniques in dentistry. So, a tooth with a crack can be simply restored, but at the same time both its shape and structure are restored. Methods of such restoration include the following manipulations:

• Crowns;
• Veneers;
• Extension.

Note that the most popular method is the installation of veneers, but if the chip is too large, then prosthetics cannot be avoided. In general, in a good clinic you can solve such a problem in just one day.

Extension of a tooth fragment

In this case, the dentist restores the damaged area using a special quickly hardening material, usually under the influence of a photopolymer lamp. They resort to this method when the chip is small and there is no need for a crown yet. In this case, the restoration is divided into the following stages: the desired shade of the working material is selected; the substance is applied in layers and using a special tool it is given the desired shape; the surface is sanded to a smooth state. This entire procedure rarely takes more than three hours.

Installation of veneers

Veneers are used if cracks have appeared, but pieces have not yet broken off. In general, these are thin linings made of ceramic or composite material that are applied to a damaged tooth. In this case, not only the lost shape is corrected, but also the color. Interestingly, veneers are also very effective in eliminating the effect of malocclusion.

Special Tabs

The above method is not suitable for chewing teeth; special inlays help correct the problem with them. In general, these are the same fillings that are installed differently. First, an impression of the tooth is made, and therefore a filler is made from it, which is installed on the damaged area. However, it is possible to restore a tooth in this way if the lost part is less than fifty percent.

Crowns

But if the chip is large, then you cannot do without a crown. In principle, a crown will help even if the tooth is completely cracked. In general, this method is ideal for canines and incisors. An artificial part is made, which is then attached to the root or to a pin.

If you have a chipped tooth, do not delay visiting the dentist. After all, this can lead to the development of pathologies in the oral cavity, and subsequently to the loss of the entire tooth.