It’s been almost a year since you bit down on that piece of holiday candy and chipped your tooth, and you’ve thought numerous times about asking your dentist if you should be concerned about it or not.
And now that the holidays are right around the corner again, you’re thinking maybe now is the time to get it checked out.
So, what can happen if you leave a chipped tooth untreated?
What Are the Risks of Ignoring a Chipped Tooth?
Your chipped tooth doesn’t hurt, and it isn’t really affecting your smile’s appearance, so why would you call the dentist, right?
Here are some of the potential risks of ignoring this common issue:
- Tooth sensitivity — A chipped tooth can expose your tooth’s inner layers, causing pain or sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet foods and drinks.
- Tooth decay — When you chip your tooth, bacteria can make their way into your tooth’s pulp chamber and cause a cavity.
- Abscess — An infected pulp chamber can lead to a more serious dental abscess.
- Soft tissue injury — If your tooth has sharp edges, you could cut your tongue, gums, and cheeks.
- Further damage — When you continue to bite down on your cracked tooth, it could crack more or even break.
- Tooth loss — Severe breakage or infection could eventually lead to tooth loss.
Chipped Tooth Treatment Options
If caught early, we can often fix your chipped tooth without extensive treatment.
Here are some of the treatment options we might recommend:
- Dental bonding — By adding tooth-colored composite resin to the chipped area, we can restore your smile’s beauty and function in one dental visit.
- Smoothing — For minor chips, we may be able to polish the rough edges, protecting your soft tissues.
- Dental crowns — If you have more severe damage, a dental crown completely covers and protects your tooth. A custom crown blends seamlessly with your other teeth.
- Root canal therapy — When a chipped tooth leads to an infected pulp chamber, a root canal removes the infection and often saves your tooth from extraction.
Ready to Schedule an Appointment?
If you live in Indianapolis or the surrounding area, our caring dental team would love to meet you! At Southeast Family Dental, we can assess your oral health and make treatment recommendations based on your budget and timeline.
Please feel free to give us a call for more information!