Your tooth enamel, the hard outer layer of your teeth, is densely packed with microscopic but nevertheless very strong and durable mineral crystals. Unfortunately, a blow to the face or chewing on hard objects can chip the enamel layer. If this happens, even if the fracture seems minor, you should contact your dentist for treatment as soon as possible.
If a chipped tooth is emitting persistent or sharp pain, this can be an indication that the damage reached the vulnerable inside of the tooth and may need root canal therapy to replace the weakened internal structure. Then, the whole tooth will be covered with a crown.
If the chip doesn’t extend to the inner tooth, it should still be looked at by our dentist, as the vulnerable area of the enamel could develop tooth decay in the future. A simple filling may be enough to address the issue, but a large chip could warrant the use of a crown. If several of teeth have suffered minor chips, Dr. Steven Wolfson may recommend dental veneers.
Once the chip in your tooth has been repaired, we can provide a simple fluoride treatment or supplement to fortify the remaining natural tooth enamel and reduce the risk of tooth decay.
If you need to address a chipped tooth in Houston, Texas, please feel free to call Steven Wolfson, DDS at 713-789-1225 and schedule your appointment as soon as you can.
