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A chipped tooth is quite often associated with great horror, hence, the question about what to do if it happens is not uncommon. Children often suffer dental injuries from falls, but it can also happen to adults. In addition, the tooth can become chipped when chewing hard food or if you grind your teeth very intensively. So what to do if your tooth got chipped?

• Call the dentist immediately

If a tooth is chipped, save the chipped part and call your dentist. In such an emergency, it is likely that an appointment will be made fairly quickly, but sometimes it is simply not possible to see patients on the same day. In this case, you can look for clinics where a visit would be possible soon enough.

• Take care of the chipped part of the tooth

It is important that the chipped part of the tooth is protected from drying. You can keep a chipped tooth in cold milk or a physiological solution purchased from a pharmacy (in the worst case, soak it in plain water). The dentist will be able to glue the chipped part of the tooth, but do not be surprised if the color of the glued part differs from the rest of the tooth for a few weeks (this is due to uneven saturation of fluids). In the future, the color of the glued part may also temporarily change if you breathe through your mouth instead of your nose.

• How to look after the bonded tooth? 

Caring for a bonded tooth is essentially no different from normal care. The only difference is that it will be necessary to monitor whether the bonded tooth is viable. If you notice that your tooth has become more sensitive or painful, contact your dentist immediately. You should also avoid extremely hard foods because a bonded tooth is more vulnerable.

OTHER METHODS OF TOOTH RESTORATION

Your own tooth is more durable than any filling or prosthesis, so you should find the chipped part of the tooth if possible. However, in some cases it is not possible to bond a chipped tooth, in which case you may need to consider other possible solutions:

• An aesthetic tooth filling is applied if the chipped part of the tooth is relatively small. This procedure is used when you want to beautify the shape of the teeth, mask certain damage and color changes. Aesthetic dental fillings are performed after minimal grinding of the natural tooth tissue, and they last approximately 8-12 years. The aesthetically sealed teeth look very natural, and the procedure is performed relatively quickly (4-6 teeth can be sealed during one visit);
• Dental veneers can also work well if the patient has a chipped tooth. Dental veneers are thin plates made of porcelain that are placed over polished front teeth. Such an aesthetic solution helps to mask color changes, can correct the shape of the teeth and fill the chipped part of the tooth;
• If a relatively large part of the tooth was chipped, it is recommended to choose dental prosthetics. Modern dental crowns look very natural, so you can be sure that the dentures will not differ from the adjacent teeth. If a front tooth is chipped, it is advisable to choose a crown made of zirconium ceramic, because it is translucent and looks like a natural tooth. Metal-ceramic crowns are not transparent to light, so they are more suitable for molar dentures.
  

IF A TOOTH GOT KNOCKED OUT...

In this case, it will also be necessary to save the knocked-out tooth and take it to a dental clinic. Unfortunately, if the patient's tooth is knocked out, pulling on the nerve simply cannot be avoided. After such a tooth injury, it is very important to rinse your mouth with water and contact a dentist as soon as possible. The knocked-out tooth will be attached to the nearby teeth, and then, if the knocked-out tooth was not found, the patient will be offered tooth implantation and prosthetics.

WHY IS IT NECESSARY TO TAKE CARE OF KNOCKED-OUT OR CHIPPED TEETH?

This is important not only for aesthetics but also for your health. If the chipped tooth has not been repaired, it may need to be removed over time. If a tooth has been knocked out, inflammation and bone loss can occur in that area, which can also damage nearby teeth.

So, if your tooth got chipped, don't panic and consult a dentist who will be able to offer you the most suitable solution. Even if the chipped tooth cannot be found, you will be able to choose the most effective way to restore the tooth - currently, there are quite a few options. 

If a tooth is chipped, we recommend registering for a visit online or by phone at the Vilnius Dental Clinic.