Ideally, you would address any concern you ever have with your smile as soon as you notice it. In real life, however, you have a lot more to worry about than just your oral health, and sometimes, even obvious problems might not seem as high a priority as other concerns. For example, chipped teeth are common, but they’re often left untreated because they don’t seem severe. Compared to a significant fracture or break in your tooth, a tiny chip off its edge can seem relatively minimal. Yet, if you wait too long to fix the chipped tooth, that tiny damage can end up having a huge effect on the health and integrity of the tooth’s structure.
It’s not going to heal on its own
Like any kind of damage to your tooth structure, a chip being broken off of it is not something that will resolve itself. The tooth won’t regrow the chipped off structure, nor will the broken part of your tooth heal itself. The more you bite and chew on the tooth, the more the pressure can cause further damage to it. By the time some people finally do seek to fix their chipped tooth, it’s because the damage is now causing noticeable symptoms like tooth pain or an inability to bite comfortably. By then, restoring the tooth may be much more complicated than fixing a minor chip would have been.
It can grow worse if you wait
The specific way in which your chipped tooth grows worse can depend on several different factors, including the location of the chip and the position of your tooth along your dental ridge. For example, for some people, the chipped tooth can turn into a fractured one, with the crack extending through more of the structure until it reaches the root (if not treated in time). A fractured tooth roots can’t be restored, and if it occurs, you may need to have the tooth extracted. In other cases, the chip can lead to excessive wear on your tooth, causing it to lose more of its structure until the tooth is a different size and shape than it’s supposed to be.
It isn’t usually complicated to fix
Whether it’s a vertical root fracture, a significantly worn tooth, or other type of extensive tooth damage, the problems that can arise from ignoring a chipped tooth can sometimes take extensive treatment to address. However, treating the chipped tooth before it gets worse can usually help keep your treatment plan minimal. For instance, in many cases, we can fix the chip with conservative, cosmetic tooth bonding. Using a small amount of tooth-colored composite resin, we can rebuild the chipped area of your tooth without having to alter the healthy structure.
Fix your chipped tooth with custom treatment
Maybe your chipped tooth doesn’t seem like a big deal right now, but if you wait to fix it, it can become one before you even realize it. To learn more, schedule a visit by calling Syosset Dental in Syosset, NY, today at 516-433-2211 or 516-921-1678.
