Sooner or later, for some reason, tooth enamel “gives in” under the pressure of external irritants (whether it’s decay or mechanical damage), and its strength is compromised. As a result, chips may occur on one or several teeth. Such damage to the integrity of the tooth requires immediate treatment. Depending on the root cause of the chip and its size, various methods of chipped tooth repair may be employed.

Why chips may appear on teeth, what to do if it happens, and the methods used to correct such defects will be discussed in this article.

Understanding Dental Bonding

A chip in tooth enamel is, first and foremost, a violation of its integrity – a disruption in the tooth’s integrity. Even if you don’t feel pain and your tooth is not sensitive to hot and cold foods, this issue should not be left untreated. What to do about a chipped tooth? Urgent dental care and treatment for the chip are exactly what needs to be done promptly. Just as you would seek medical attention for an injury or fracture of a limb, you should take the same approach in this case.

And here are a few reasons why treatment is important:

• A chip on the tooth is not aesthetically pleasing. When the integrity of the tooth is compromised, it doesn’t look healthy or aesthetically pleasing. There is an undeniable desire to cover the mouth during conversations or hide the smile. This causes discomfort during communication and creates invisible social barriers. To avoid all of this, it’s worth consulting a dentist for diagnosis and chipped tooth repair.
• A chip on the tooth is dangerous for the health of the damaged tooth. Indeed, the disruption of enamel integrity makes the tooth and its internal structures vulnerable to decay. Imagine the tooth as a fortress, and enamel as its strong high walls. Once there’s a breach in the wall, the fortress becomes vulnerable and easier to destroy. And the tooth, by the way, is constantly exposed to bacteria. Therefore, to prevent the irreversible loss of the tooth, it is advisable to repair or “close” the chip, thereby protecting the tooth from further damage.

Understanding Chipped Teeth

Before we explore methods for repairing chipped teeth, it’s important to clarify what chipped teeth are, how they occur, and what types of such defects exist.

A chipped tooth is a tooth with damaged enamel and/or other internal structures. In this case, a portion of the crown of the tooth becomes permanently separated.

Types of Tooth Chips

• By the Nature of Destruction:
  • Superficial Chip: A defect where the integrity of the tooth is disrupted in the enamel area.
  • Medium Chip: A defect that affects both enamel and dentin.
  • Deep Chip: Arises when the pulp becomes visible due to destruction.
• By Volume:
  • Refers to chips that partially or completely compromise the integrity of the tooth crown across its entire surface.

Regardless of the type of chip you have, it is crucial to undergo chipped tooth repair. This is key to restoring the integrity and health of the damaged tooth.

7 Main Reasons for the Appearance of Tooth Chips

• Sports Injuries: The most common cause of tooth chips is accidental injuries. Athletes and individuals engaged in active sports as a hobby are particularly familiar with this.
• Bruxism: Involuntary teeth grinding during sleep is a habit that can lead to consequences such as enamel destruction and the development of chips. If you experience bruxism, use a protective mouthguard while sleeping to protect the enamel from damage.
• Accidents: Accidental falls, unsuccessful play with children, and car accidents often result in a visit to the dentist for the restoration of a broken tooth.
• Enamel Erosion: Like the following items on this list, enamel erosion is also a cause of tooth chips. However, this pertains to a dental condition with a non-caries nature. The condition affects the enamel and can progress to the internal tissues of the tooth, thereby causing destruction. As a result of erosion, chips may appear on the teeth.
• Weak Enamel: A deficiency of calcium in the body and diet leads to the weakening of enamel. As a result, despite seemingly manageable loads on the teeth, the enamel may not withstand the pressure, leading to breakage and the appearance of chips on the tooth.
• Tooth Decay: From the outside, you may observe enamel darkening, while internally, part of the tooth’s internal tissues may be partially destroyed – this is how tooth decay can manifest. As a result, even with a slight bite on the tooth, its internal structures may not withstand the pressure, causing the tooth to partially break and chip.
• Consequences of Unsuccessful Treatment: Sometimes, chips appear not only on seemingly healthy teeth but also on teeth that have undergone treatment for cavities, pulpitis, or periodontitis. This is because, under the established filling, if the treatment was not effectively performed, secondary decay may occur. It erodes the tooth under the filling. Sooner or later, during chewing, this structure may not withstand the load, leading to a chip in the area of the filling or nearby.

Immediate Steps after a Chip:

If for any reason a part of your tooth broke off or the tooth itself is completely broken, it is a serious matter. Don’t panic and seek help from a professional dentist as soon as possible. The dentist will examine your oral cavity, take X-rays of your teeth if necessary, and advise on how to fix the chipped tooth. Then, based on your preferences, they will address the problem in one or multiple visits. It all depends on the individual situation. Here are some recommendations to help you while waiting for your dental appointment.

How to help yourself if you have a chipped tooth:

1. Determine if your tooth is broken or if it’s just a chip. Typically, sharp pain is experienced with deep tooth damage. In the case of a moderate or superficial chip, there may be no noticeable pain.
2. Rinse your mouth with saltwater. If you feel pain that persists, take over-the-counter pain relievers available at home without a prescription.
3. If the tooth is partially chipped, and there is a sharp edge that could potentially harm the oral mucosa or tongue, use a cotton ball, gauze, or even chewing gum to prevent further damage. Place the gum between the broken tooth and the cheek (or tongue).
4. If you suspect that your tooth is broken, schedule an appointment with a dentist promptly, as you may need urgent assistance. This is especially crucial for chips and injuries resulting from trauma. The dentist should examine the oral cavity, tooth, and jaw, as the damage may be more severe than it seems.

How to Repair a Chipped Tooth

During the examination and consultation, the dentist will inform you about the treatment options for chipped teeth and damaged teeth. Typically, they will recommend several options for restoring the integrity of the tooth that are suitable for your specific case. The decision will then be up to you.

For example, for the treatment of superficial and moderate chips, restoration or the placement of a single veneer is often recommended. In the case of deep damage and significant loss of tooth structure, the dentist may suggest the installation of dental crowns, restoration with the reconstruction of the tooth’s shape and volume, as well as the placement of an implant. In addition to crown placement and deep restoration, additional procedures such as root canal treatment may be performed.

Dental Bonding

What to do about a chipped tooth if the damage is minor? The answer to this question is dental bonding. The procedure involves cleaning the damaged area of the tooth and restoring its shape using special dental composite materials. These materials are pliable in the initial stages. The dentist fills the cavity with them, giving the tooth a beautiful anatomical form. Under the influence of a special lamp, the material hardens and bonds well with the natural tooth. After restoration, the tooth is polished and looks as good as new. It’s as if nothing happened.

Dental Veneers

Dental veneers are thin ceramic plates individually crafted for each patient. They are affixed to the frontal surface of the tooth and remarkably transform the smile, effectively concealing various defects, including chips on the teeth.

How do dentists fix a chipped tooth with veneer? 

• First, the dentist treats the problematic tooth, filling it to prevent the development of cavities and reduce sensitivity to hot and cold foods. Afterward, they delicately remove a minimal layer of enamel from the frontal part of the tooth. This is necessary to install veneers.
• Next, an individual impression of the teeth is taken, serving as the basis for crafting the veneers. While the veneers are being fabricated, temporary ones are placed on the patient’s teeth. After a few weeks, the new veneer (or veneers) is installed on the damaged tooth.

With veneers, the smile looks incredibly beautiful.

Dental Crowns

What to do for a severely chipped tooth? In such cases, dental crowns can be the solution. They restore a tooth even if its external part is significantly damaged or broken. Crowns are made from materials such as ceramic or zirconia and completely replace the outer part of the tooth. Unlike veneers, a crown covers the damaged tooth entirely rather than just the frontal side. Before placing a dental crown, the dentist will perform pulpectomy, removing the nerves and treating the tooth’s canals.

Dental Contouring and Reshaping

Contouring and reshaping of teeth are a type of tooth restoration similar to veneers. This technique is used in aesthetic dentistry to enhance the beauty of a smile and eliminate chips. It is essential that the teeth undergoing contouring and reshaping are healthy. To ensure this, the dentist performs both a visual examination for surface cavities and takes X-rays or panoramic images.

This method is most commonly used for correcting relatively small surface chips. The smile undergoes a noticeable transformation through the construction and correction process. A small layer of healthy enamel is removed, and it is then replenished with a beautiful composite material. This is necessary to ensure that the color and structure of the teeth are uniform across the entire surface.

Severe Cases and Dental Implants

When broken tooth repair is not feasible, dental implants can help restore the integrity of the dental arch. These are titanium structures that are anchored in the bone tissue at the site of the lost tooth. The installation of an implant is more expensive than restoration or crown placement; however, the lifespan of such a construction is 20 years or more. The installation of such a structure is a lengthy process. Initially, it is necessary to wait for about 6 months for the bone tissue at the site of the lost tooth to heal. After this, the titanium implant post is installed. To ensure that the external element has properly integrated, it is necessary to wait several more months after its installation. If all is well, the external part of the implant—the dental crown, which looks like a natural tooth—is then placed on the structure.

Root Canal Procedure

In cases of severe damage and trauma, broken tooth repair requires not only treating its crown but also addressing its root system. This is necessary to prevent the infiltration of infection into the tooth’s canals and pulp. Root canals treatment involves the removal of nerve endings from the tooth and the sealing of the canals. This method is often performed in conjunction with other dental procedures, such as complex restoration or the installation of dental crowns.

In conclusion, if you have a chipped tooth, even if it doesn’t cause you discomfort (either physically or aesthetically), don’t neglect treatment. Schedule an appointment with a dentist and address the issue while it is still minimal. Enamel is a very resilient structure, but dentin and pulp, the internal layers of the tooth, are highly sensitive to bacteria and decay. Once the integrity of the enamel is compromised, there is a risk that the tooth may deteriorate rapidly due to external factors. Take care of your dental health and make an appointment with a dentist for the restoration of the chipped tooth.