A chipped tooth is one of the most common mechanical damage to the dentition; also, the breaking off of a part of a tooth can be caused by a decrease in the strength of dental tissues due to various diseases of the oral cavity. Decay of teeth, especially those located in the front part, reduces the aesthetics of a smile, so most often people try not to put off visiting the dentist. However, there are injuries that are not very noticeable at first, especially if they are not accompanied by pain, and if a tooth injury is left to chance, this can lead to unpleasant consequences.
Chipped front tooth
Dental tissue is the hardest surface in the entire body, consisting of 96% inorganic substances, 3% water and only 1% organic materials. Despite the fact that the composition of tooth enamel does not contain collagen, it contains other protein compounds, for example, enamelins and amelogenins. Dental tissue is wear-resistant and highly durable, and the top layer of enamel can reach 2.5 mm, but for all its advantages, it has a serious drawback - the inability to regenerate, so over time the tooth surface becomes thinner and there is a risk of chipping.
For modern dentistry, there is very little that is impossible, and repair of a chipped tooth can be done quickly, efficiently and effectively in our clinic, where the most highly qualified specialists and real luminaries of medicine work. And in order for our patients to be armed with information and ready for anything, we will tell you in detail about what causes a tooth fracture, what treatment methods exist and how to restore a chipped tooth.
Causes of dental chips
There are many circumstances that can lead to partial tooth destruction; among the most common, experts note the following:
- Injuries received by mechanical means, from which people who lead an active lifestyle or choose extreme sports are least insured (children jumping like saigas and teenagers fighting behind garages also fall into this category). Although, by and large, this reason is quite common, tooth damage can be caused by blows, falls, accidents, which, unfortunately, happen every day.
- Demineralization of tooth enamel, lack of calcium, fluoride and other microelements necessary to strengthen teeth are typical for women during pregnancy and lactation, and the elderly.
- Weakening of enamel due to overuse of sweet or sour foods, viscous and hard foods, exposure to high and low temperatures is at risk for those with a sweet tooth, especially those who like to drink ice cream with hot coffee.
- Carious lesions of the enamel of dental tissue, which can penetrate to the very root and significantly reduce the strength of the tooth, making it fragile and unstable even to small loads.
- An incorrect bite that disrupts the balance of stress on the dentition, which can lead to the abrasion of enamel and the appearance of areas with exposed dentin.
- Disturbed hormonal metabolism, weakened immunity, poor heredity.
- Bad habits, such as heavy smoking, the habit of cracking nuts with your teeth or opening beer bottles with your teeth like a hussar.
- Poor installation of the seal or its destruction.
Child's tooth chipped
Light filling on a pin – what are the advantages of the method?
A post filling is considered a reliable replacement material when a dentist is restoring a fractured unit. A titanium or fiberglass pin is inserted into the root canal, after which the coronal part is restored with a composite material. Among the disadvantages of the method is the potential risk of root fracture, since the pin fails under pressure, as well as shrinkage of the filling and the development of secondary caries under it.
Unfortunately, teeth restored in this way do not last forever. After 3–5 years, the dentist will have to change the filling or, due to global destruction of the crown, perform prosthetics/implantation.
Types of damage and consequences of chips
Chip of tooth enamel or microcrack
As a result, the integrity of the upper dental layer is compromised, or its particles are separated. In most cases, such damage is barely noticeable and does not cause pain to the person; experts classify these defects as mild, and people prefer not to go to the dentist with such “nonsense.” However, places where the integrity of the enamel is damaged may be subject to various stresses, which provoke the development of pathogenic microflora, carious lesions and the activity of pathogenic microorganisms.
Vertical and horizontal cracks
Chipped tooth with dentin fracture
Considered to be a moderate injury. Such damage may not be accompanied by pain, or may cause discomfort and unpleasant sensations to external stimuli: hot or cold food, sour or sweet foods. Dentin is the inner tissue of the tooth and is inferior in strength to enamel, therefore, if the lost part is not built up in time, the dentin will begin to crumble, which can lead to tooth loss. From an aesthetic point of view, even a small chip in a front tooth can significantly reduce the attractiveness of your smile.
Deep fracture of the tooth to the pulp tissue with exposure of the nerve
This type of injury is considered the most severe, often accompanied by a split tooth into two parts, profuse bleeding and sharp pain, reminiscent of the torture of the Spanish Inquisition, and even painkillers only temporarily dull the pain. In such cases, delay can be fraught with inflammation and the development of infection.
Injury
Single or chronic - the third reason for possible tooth chips
A single injury occurs when there is a blow, an accident, or accidentally biting on a hard object while chewing.
There are three types of chronic injury
- Due to malocclusion (when the teeth do not close correctly, some teeth may receive excessive load, close in the wrong areas, at the wrong angle, or with an opponent that is not their power). For example, a powerful fang of the lower jaw can be positioned in such a way that when closed, it will severely injure the incisor on the upper jaw, which is much inferior to it in size and power. As a result of such long-term closure, the incisor can get into big problems, and the patient will face the need for treatment or removal.
- Due to the absence of other teeth (when a number of teeth are missing, their work is performed by the remaining ones; excessive load may one day result in a fracture of the tooth, a break in its wall, or a split in the root).
- Due to bruxism (“idle” teeth grinding) or other parafunctional manifestations.
How to avoid?
- Be sure to restore missing teeth (there are a lot of ways today, there are even temporary prosthetics if for some reason you need to postpone dental treatment).
- Consult an orthodontist, orthopedist or periodontist about bite problems and undergo orthodontic treatment if indicated.
- Get advice from an orthopedist/gnathologist and psychotherapist about the possible causes of bruxism and take possible measures that the doctor recommends.
What should you do first if a tooth is damaged?
Of course, if you receive slight damage to the enamel or detect microcracks, you should not escalate the situation and immediately run to the 24-hour dental care office; just make an appointment with the dentist on any convenient date. But in case of moderate or severe tooth defects, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible, having first provided first aid to yourself.
Cold compress for a damaged tooth
To do this, you need to rinse your mouth with a saline or soda solution to remove any remaining food, in case of serious damage, apply a cool compress that will prevent swelling, and in case of gum injury, use a disinfectant pad with hydrogen peroxide. If the pain is severe and there are no contraindications, a painkiller will come to the rescue. And then – straight to the doctor!
Why removing the root is not the solution to the problem
If there is no natural crown, and instead of it an empty space appears, especially when it is the roots of the upper front teeth, many people habitually rush to the surgeon. They want to remove the remains and quickly install a bridge, eliminating the aesthetic defect.
But first, it’s worth considering the situation with your doctor - there are certain risks during removal: damage to the mandibular nerve, excessive trauma to the gums, and others. In addition, tooth restoration based on its own root is always more gentle than any prosthetic method.
Dentists try to preserve every unit, since the absence of natural teeth leads to a decrease in the quality of life. If you simply remove the roots of permanent teeth, then immediate implantation is needed. In the absence of a unit, destructive processes begin in tissues, and bone volume decreases. Therefore, doctors do not recommend neglecting this problem. Even if there is no chewing molar, which is not visible.
Restoration of a chipped tooth: types of treatment and restoration of damage
In restorative dentistry, various methods of tooth restoration are used, depending on the type of injury, the nature of the defect, the location of the damaged tooth and the general health of the patient. In each specific clinical case, the method of tooth restoration is determined individually, but experts identify several main types of treatment for chipped teeth.
Remineralization
Remineralization is used as a method of partial restoration of tooth enamel with small defects and microcracks, for prophylaxis, to prevent the leaching of minerals and to strengthen the outer layer of the tooth. The surface is covered with a special solution containing micronutrients and enriched with minerals. Remineralization allows you to restore the protective properties of enamel.
Remineralization of tooth enamel
Fluoridation
Fluoridation is the application of medicinal preparations in the form of gels and varnishes with a high fluorine content to the damaged surface. The procedure is carried out in several stages and allows you to restore the integrity of the enamel in case of minor damage.
Building up
Extension is carried out in cases of moderate tooth trauma with partial dentin fracture; the procedure involves applying a special medical paste, fixing each layer using light radiation. When restoring in this way, a certain texture, color and shade of the building material is selected, which makes it possible to make the restored tooth practically indistinguishable from others. This technique has a relatively low cost and is effective, which has made extensions very popular.
Filling and microprosthetics
Filling and microprosthetics are used for extensive damage to dental tissue; in various cases, restoration is used using conventional fillings, stump and restoration inlays, veneers and lumineers, and in case of tooth loss, prosthetics on implants or the installation of artificial crowns are performed.
Microprosthetics of cracked teeth
For outgoing and public people, the appearance and attractiveness of a smile is often of great importance, so a chipped front tooth can become a real problem. For the restoration of teeth located in the frontal part of the dentition, onlays made of ceramics, porcelain or zirconium dioxide can be used, which are the best aesthetic solution. When using microprosthetics with veneers, you have to grind off a thin layer of enamel to make the overlay look as natural as possible; the procedure is quite unpleasant, but allows you to achieve maximum attractiveness. Lumineers are thinner, so their installation does not require grinding the enamel, but this type of lining is more vulnerable to mechanical damage. Onlays perfectly hide tooth defects and are used not only in case of chips, but also to restore aesthetic function to patients with crooked dentition and large gaps between teeth.
When restoring lateral teeth that are hidden from the eyes of others, visual appeal and beauty often fade into the background, so restoration can be performed using inlays, the main task of which is to reconstruct the integrity of the tooth and restore chewing function. Restorative inlays perform the same function as fillings, but for more extensive damage - they replenish the damaged or chipped part of the tooth, restore the original shape and relief of the dental unit. Stump inlays work on the principle of crowns - they restore the upper part of the tooth, which has preserved the root and base, but has a large affected area. Inlays are made from noble and base metals, metal alloys, which makes them wear-resistant and durable, and ceramic, metal-ceramic and light-polymer composite inlays are used to restore the color and shade of teeth. In some clinical cases, adhesive microprostheses made of fiberglass in the form of a beam can be used, which are attached to notches on adjacent teeth using medical cement; such products are hypoallergenic, light and durable.
Installation of crowns
Very often, patients are interested in whether it is possible to build up a tooth with a vertical crack and a damaged nerve, split in half to the pulp. Despite the wide arsenal of restoration methods, the most acceptable option is the removal of the injured tooth with the subsequent installation of an implant and an artificial prosthesis.
Benefits of Cerec Restoration
The innovation has clear advantages compared to traditional prosthetics:
- The process does not take a week or several days, but only 1.5 hours
per tooth maximum. - Accuracy
. The computer minimizes errors and eliminates errors. - Biocompatibility
. Fabrics do not reject materials.
An inlay in the tooth root is created quickly, then the crown is modeled. The price is fully justified by the reliability, long service life of the structures and their aesthetics.
There is a striking difference between the smiles of patients when they only had the root of the tooth left, and the photo after treatment with Cerec dentures.
A child's baby tooth is chipped: do children get teeth augmented?
Children, due to their activity and curiosity, are susceptible to injuries, which can lead to the formation of chips on their teeth; in addition, in older children, the bite changes, single molars grow, which can lead to an uneven load on the milk teeth, which can lead to weakening of the enamel and the formation of cracks. Many adults mistakenly believe that such defects should not be treated, since baby teeth will fall out anyway.
If treatment for damage to baby teeth is not started in time, in addition to pain and increased sensitivity, the child may develop stomatitis, so it is necessary to visit a dentist in case of injury.
As a rule, the treatment of primary teeth occurs according to a simplified system in order to preserve temporary units before they fall out; antiseptic protective gels, fluoridation or installation of a temporary plastic filling are used to protect the tooth from further destruction.
What can happen if treatment is not started on time?
For some, it may seem that a chipped tooth is not such a serious defect to pay attention to it; for some people, the aesthetic component and beauty of a smile does not play a significant role, while others are willing to endure such inconveniences as increased tooth sensitivity only would not visit the dentist. However, if you ignore the problem, it can lead to more serious consequences:
- The appearance of carious lesions with damage to dentin and the formation of cavities in the tooth. In advanced cases, caries is complicated by pulpitis and periodontitis. The affected tissue not only causes severe pain, but also leads to extensive destruction, including tooth loss.
- Development of cysts and granulomas
- Displacement and shifting of the dentition due to curvature of the roots or changes in the angle of inclination of the root; the most harmless thing this can lead to is malocclusion.
The occurrence of caries at the site of tooth damage
Most of these diseases are quite difficult to treat, so you should respond promptly to emerging oral problems and not neglect medical care, so as not to become a regular client of the dentist.
How to determine if a root is healthy
How to understand whether caries has affected the root of the tooth, whether the dentin of the tooth root is intact or whether there are defects? In order to have an objective picture of the process, it is necessary to perform an x-ray of the tooth root and a computed tomogram. A CT scan will determine the true condition of the root and show:
- The presence of inflammatory processes.
- It will determine whether there are neoplasms and what size they are (cyst or granuloma).
- The location of the roots in relation to the neighboring ones, the maxillary sinus.
This is the only way to see whether it will be possible to cure the tooth root using a tab.
Recommendations from experts
It is impossible to completely exclude the possibility of the formation of dental defects, but in order to minimize the risk of cracks and chips in the teeth, experts recommend following a few simple rules that will help strengthen tooth enamel and make it more resistant to mechanical damage:
- Pay close attention to your oral hygiene, don’t be lazy about brushing your teeth twice a day, and don’t shy away from using dental floss and mouthwash.
- If possible, limit yourself to consuming sugary edibles. Of course, many people love cakes, sweets and ice cream, but everything should be in moderation!
- Include in your daily diet foods rich in fluoride, calcium, phosphorus and vitamin C: natural milk, sour cream, kefir, fermented baked milk, cottage cheese, various types of cheeses, herbs and nuts.
- Visiting the dentist at least twice a year, a timely scheduled examination makes it possible to identify most oral diseases at an early stage.
Repairing chips on artificial teeth
Unfortunately, no one is immune from injury, so there is a possibility of damage to artificial teeth, for example, temporary metal-plastic crowns, ceramic products (in cases of high load on them) or metal-ceramic crowns. In such cases, the product can be polished, removed with subsequent repairs, or an artificial crown can be built up directly in the oral cavity using special materials - silane, opaque composition and a halogen lamp.
Polishing artificial teeth
