Tooth enamel is composed of strong minerals. In fact, it’s the hardest substance in the entire human body! Unfortunately, your teeth can still chip or crack. Even healthy teeth can fracture under certain pressures and situations, including chronic teeth grinding, biting down on a piece of hard candy, a bad fall or contact sports. Should you run to the dentist for emergency dental care if you crack or chip your tooth? It depends.
Calling your dentist right away after tooth trauma is always best, but it may not be necessary to be seen immediately for urgent dental treatment. A chipped tooth that is causing intense pain or bleeding is typically considered an emergency situation. However, if the fractured tooth is not causing discomfort, you can likely schedule a dental appointment as soon as it is convenient for you to come in. Minor cracks that only involve the tooth enamel may be unsightly or even uncomfortable to your tongue or lips, but it isn’t posing an immediate threat to the health of your tooth. When you are unsure about the severity of your tooth trauma, let your dentist decide your timing of treatment.
Just because your cracked tooth doesn’t need same-day attention doesn’t mean you can wait several weeks or months to be evaluated by a dentist. When the outer tooth enamel is damaged, your tooth has lost its full protection. You become more vulnerable to cavities and may begin to experience sensitivity to hot and cold substances. To avoid more invasive treatment such as a root canal or crown, don’t delay your cracked or chipped tooth treatment too long.
Whether you have throbbing tooth pain, lost a tooth, or sustained any other dental emergency, you can count on Gilreath Family Dentistry to provide the patient-centered care and modern dental treatment you deserve.
Posted on behalf of Dr. Paul Gilreath IV,
