Typically, a chipped tooth results from incidents like falls, engaging in contact sports, grinding teeth, or chewing on hard foods. Additionally, teeth weakened by decay are more susceptible to chipping.

Should an immediate visit to your dentist be impractical, you can temporarily care for your chipped tooth by using over-the-counter pain medication for relief, steering clear of beverages with extreme temperatures to avoid toothache, and using sugarless gum to cover any sharp edges and protect your mouth from cuts. Additionally, maintaining oral hygiene by brushing and flossing around the affected area can help minimize the risk of infection in the exposed part of the tooth.

The initial step towards treating a chipped tooth involves pinpointing its cause to prevent future incidents and further damage to the tooth. After understanding why the tooth chipped, your dentist will evaluate the severity of the break. The treatment plan, based on the extent of the damage, may range from simply smoothing the rough edges to more comprehensive restorations such as bonding.

For some situations, your dentist might recommend a veneer to regain the tooth’s original appearance or a dental crown to strengthen it. In cases where the damage or infection has penetrated deeper layers of the tooth, a root canal procedure might be necessary to repair and save the tooth.

Often, a chipped tooth can be fixed with a straightforward procedure, such as smoothing down jagged edges or applying a simple filling. Yet, neglecting a chipped tooth and delaying treatment can exacerbate the damage, resulting in pain and additional cracking of the tooth. Consequently, what might have been a minor repair can escalate into a complex, invasive, and costly treatment process.