What Should I Do If I Chip My Tooth Winchester, TN
There are many reasons why a chipped tooth can occur, from an accident to merely chewing. If a chipped tooth occurs, professional dental care is necessary to receive proper evaluation and treatment. It is essential to seek prompt treatment to prevent the problem from worsening.
If you have a chipped tooth, do not hesitate to seek treatment. Winchester Family Dentistry in Winchester and the surrounding area is here to help. Call us today at (931) 283-5044 to schedule an appointment or learn more about our services.
CHIPPED OR FRACTURED TEETH
Chipped teeth account for many dental injuries. Most chipped or fractured tooth crowns can be repaired either by reattaching the broken piece or by placing a tooth-colored filling. If a significant portion of the tooth crown is broken off, an artificial crown or "cap" may be needed to restore the tooth.
Injuries in the back teeth often include fractured cusps, cracked teeth, or a more serious split tooth. If cracks extend into the root, root canal treatment and a full coverage crown may be needed to restore function to the tooth. Split teeth may require extraction.
DISLODGED (LUXATED) TEETH
During an injury, a tooth may be pushed sideways out of or into its socket. It should be returned to its proper position as soon as possible. Your Dentist can reposition and stabilize your teeth to give it the best chance of healing. Root canal treatment is usually needed for permanent teeth that have been dislodged and should be started a few days following the injury.
Children between seven and 12 years old may not need root canal treatment, since teeth are still developing. For those patients, your endodontist will monitor the healing carefully and intervene immediately if any unfavorable changes appear.
KNOCKED-OUT (AVULSED) TEETH
If a tooth is completely knocked out of your mouth, time is of the essence. The tooth should be handled very gently, avoiding touching the root surface itself. If it is dirty, quickly and gently rinse it in water. Do not use soap or any other cleaning agent and never scrape or brush the tooth. If possible, the tooth should be placed back into its socket as soon as possible. The less time the tooth is out of its socket, the better the chance for saving it.
Once the tooth has been put back in its socket, your Dentist will evaluate it and will check for any other dental or facial injuries. If the tooth has not been placed back into its socket, your Dentist will clean it carefully and replace it. A stabilizing splint will be placed for a few weeks. Depending on the stage of root development, your endodontist may start root canal treatment a week or two later.
ROOT FRACTURES
A traumatic injury to the tooth may also result in a horizontal root fracture. The location of the fracture determines the long-term health of the tooth. If the fracture is close to the root tip, the chances for success are much better. The closer the fracture is to the gum line, the poorer the long-term success rate. Stabilization with a splint is sometimes required for a period.
TRAUMATIC DENTAL INJURIES IN CHILDREN
Chipped primary (baby) teeth can be aesthetically restored. Dislodged primary teeth can, in rare cases, be repositioned. However, primary teeth that have been knocked out typically should not be replanted. This is because the replantation of a primary tooth may cause further and permanent damage to the underlying permanent tooth that is growing inside the bone.
Children's permanent teeth that are not fully developed at the time of the injury need special attention and careful follow-up, but not all of them will need root canal treatment. In an immature permanent tooth, the blood supply to the tooth and the presence of stem cells in the region may enable your doctor to stimulate continued root growth.
ROOT RESORPTION
Resorption occurs when your body, through its own defense mechanisms, begins to reject your own tooth in response to the traumatic injury. Following the injury, you should return to your dentist to have the tooth examined or treated at regular intervals to ensure that root resorption is not occurring and that surrounding tissues continue to heal. Sometimes this process cannot be stopped, and the tooth will eventually need to be removed and replaced by an implant or bridge.
With any traumatic dental injury, time is of the essence. Contact your dentist immediately.
Chipped Teeth Are Common
A chipped tooth is a common dental injury. According to the American Association of Endodontists, chipped teeth account for a majority of dental injuries. Although a chipped tooth can induce panic and anxiety, it is typically a mild problem that we can fix through various methods.
People should remain calm so they can take the proper steps to fix this problem. The best thing for patients to do after chipping a tooth is to focus on their breath and slow it down. While not all chipped teeth will require treatment, patients should visit our dentist to ensure that they receive the necessary treatment to restore and protect their teeth.
“According to the American Association of Endodontists, chipped teeth account for a majority of dental injuries.”
What To Do About a Chipped Tooth
People suffering from a chipped tooth should schedule a dental appointment since professional treatment is the only way to fix it permanently. It is important to immediately take certain steps after chipping a tooth to address pain and protect the tooth and inside of the mouth from further injury. According to the American Dental Association, people should rinse their mouth with warm water right away to clean it.
After rinsing, they should apply pressure to stop any bleeding and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. People should be sure to save any pieces of the chipped tooth and wrap them in wet gauze to bring to our dentist. While waiting to see our dentist, people can use over-the-counter pain medication to manage pain and discomfort.
“It is important to immediately take certain steps after chipping a tooth to address pain and protect the tooth and inside of the mouth from further injury.”
What to Do When Children Chip a Tooth
It can be especially nerve-wracking when a child chips a tooth, particularly if it causes them a great deal of anxiety or discomfort. The most important thing that a parent can do when a child chips a tooth is to comfort them. This may mean not addressing the chipped tooth for several minutes until they have calmed down. After getting a clearer visualization of the chip, try to locate the fragment and make sure it is not posing a risk to the child's airway. According to the Cleveland Clinic, one may be able to preserve the chipped piece of tooth in cold milk or a specific salt solution.
For children, it is important to follow the same steps that are advised when an adult chips a tooth. Control any pain or bleeding first, and then contact their dentist immediately. Dentists are able to repair chipped teeth in children in much the same way that they repair teeth in adults, so it is important to get follow-up care as soon as possible.
“The most important thing that a parent can do when a child chips a tooth is, first, comfort them.”
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How to Treat a Chipped Tooth
There are many treatment options available for chipped teeth, and treatment will depend on the nature of the injury. The American Dental Association notes that sometimes the chip in a tooth is small enough to be smoothed down with a file.
Other methods of repairing a chipped tooth include:
- Reattaching a broken fragment
- Bonding a composite resin to the tooth
- Repairing a chip with a tooth-colored filling
- Applying a veneer or crown
- Installing a dental implant
We will discuss the treatment options available to you, depending on the nature of the chip, and patients will be able to decide which option they prefer.
“We will discuss the treatment options available to you, depending on the nature of the chip, and patients will be able to decide which option they prefer.”
Questions Answered on This Page
Q. How common is a chipped tooth?
Q. What steps should happen after chipping a tooth?
Q. How should a treated chipped tooth be maintained?
Q. What should I do if my child chips a tooth?
Q. What can a dentist do to fix my chipped tooth?
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Maintaining a Treated Chipped Tooth
After treatment for a chipped tooth, patients must maintain a regular oral care routine. This maintenance includes brushing twice a day and flossing at least once. Patients should also follow all after-care instructions to take care of the repaired tooth and protect it from further damage.
Other maintenance tips include not biting down on the treated tooth and refining from chewing on hard foods and objects. Following the repair, patients should also attend all follow-up appointments and schedule regular dental check-ups. These appointments will allow our dentist to check the repair and protect patients' overall oral health to prevent a chip from happening again.
“After treatment for a chipped tooth, patients must maintain a regular oral care routine.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How common are chipped teeth?
A. It is very common to experience a chipped tooth. In fact, the American Association of Endodontists reports that the most common type of dental injury is a chipped tooth. Luckily there are many things you can do to avoid a chipped tooth, such as making sure you do not use your teeth to open non-food items and wearing a mouth guard during contact sports.
Q. How do chipped teeth most commonly occur?
A. The most common way teeth chip is through injury. However, they can occur from other situations besides accidents and are often a result of weakened tooth enamel. Biting down on hard foods or objects can chip a tooth easily when the teeth are not as strong as they once were. We recommend using a mouthguard when playing sports and while sleeping to avoid injury or chipping a tooth from grinding or clenching.
Q. Why does my chipped tooth hurt?
A. If your chipped tooth hurts, it may be because the injury extends past the surface of your tooth. If the chip continues through the enamel and dentin layers of your tooth and exposes the inner part of the tooth known as the tooth pulp, you can experience pain. Make sure to follow up with your dentist as soon as you can.
Q. What should I do with the piece of the tooth that chipped off?
A. If you locate the chipped piece of tooth, you should save it to bring to your dental appointment. Try to keep the tooth chip moist by transporting it in cold milk. It may be possible for your dentist to reattach the chipped piece, but this is not always possible.
Q. What if I chip a tooth and it falls out?
A. If your chipped tooth becomes loose and falls out, this constitutes a dental emergency. You should contact your dentist as soon as possible so that you have the highest likelihood of preserving the integrity of the tooth. If possible, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that you try to keep the tooth moist by replacing it in your mouth until you receive further instructions from your dentist.
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Dental Emergency Terminology
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If you have a chipped tooth, do not panic. Our team at Winchester Family Dentistry can help restore a chipped tooth's function and appearance. Call us today at 931-283-5044 to learn more about our services or schedule an appointment.
Helpful Related Links
- American Dental Association (ADA). Glossary of Dental Clinical Terms. 2025
- American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry® (AACD). Home Page. 2025
- WebMD. WebMD’s Oral Care Guide. 2025
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