If a tooth breaks off, what will the dentist do? What to do if a piece has broken off from the front or chewing tooth, how to avoid further destruction? Participation of the dentist in the treatment

Date: 20.06.2020

How many times have you watched people cover their mouths with a napkin in embarrassment? Or maybe there was a need to hold back a smile yourself so that others would not notice that your tooth was cracked or chipped off? Unfortunately, such situations are not uncommon. What to do in such a situation, we will consider in this article.

Symptoms of damage to the integrity of the tooth

More-less Problems with the oral cavity overtake everyone. Sometimes they are more significant, interfere with eating, cause pain, and often psychological discomfort when it comes to incisors. But sometimes cracks and chips are so small that they can only be seen in the dentist's chair. In such situations, it is very important not to miss the time - to see a doctor in time so that more serious ailments do not have to be treated in the future.

If you have noticed an increased sensitivity to hot and cold, as well as pain at the slightest touch, this is a reason to consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Causes of damage

There is an opinion that broken teeth are the fate of children who often fall and athletes who are constantly injured. However, it is not. In addition to mechanical damage, there are a number of other reasons damage.

These include:

If at least a few of these points are familiar to you firsthand, this is an occasion for more thorough oral care and requires more frequent preventive visits to the dentist.

Types of chips

Healthy teeth are key health digestive system, a dazzling smile and, as a result, self-confidence. Therefore, noticing the most minor damage, you should immediately consult a dentist. What can we say about serious chips when the integrity of the tooth suffers. Let's talk about what kind of chips there are, how serious each of them is and why it requires immediate treatment.

Kinds chips:

Each of these types of chips is dangerous in its own way and requires mandatory treatment in order to avoid more serious consequences.

Treatment of the affected tooth

Depending on the cause of the damage, different teeth are affected. So, from blows and other types of injuries, the front ones most often break - incisors and fangs. Due to bad habits and health problems, both general and local, chewing teeth are more often destroyed. Treatment approaches also differ, because a broken incisor is also an aesthetic problem that needs to be eliminated qualitatively.

Treatment of incisors and canines

Even before the start of treatment, the dentist needs to decide what to do to restore the tooth. To do this, a thorough examination is carried out and the degree of damage to the crown is determined.

So, a piece of the front tooth broke off - what to do?

Methods treatment incisors and canines:

Molar restoration

Treatment of chewing teeth is carried out according to the same principle as the front teeth. With only one difference - the aesthetic side is not so important, the main thing is to return the ability to chew food to the tooth.

If a piece of tooth has broken off, the main function which - chewing, apply:

Restoration using composite materials.
Ceramic inlays are an ideal option, as they exactly repeat the natural shape of the tooth and restore its functionality one hundred percent.
Crowns and bridges. These types of treatments are used for more severe damage.
As in the case of the front teeth, with complete destruction, implantation is used.
If a piece of a wisdom tooth has broken off, most likely, your doctor will decide in favor of removing the damaged tooth - they have no functional load, therefore, it makes no sense to carry out serious treatment.

Unfortunately, a situation often arises when a tooth breaks off in a child. As a rule, due to children's mobility, here we are talking about mechanical damage in most cases of incisors. My child has a chipped tooth, what should I do? Try to see a dentist within one to two hours. In addition to assisting in the event of a chip, an x-ray will also be taken for a small patient to check if there are any problems with the root system or jaw.

First aid

Regardless of which tooth and who has broken, before visiting dentist help the victim at home.

First aid:

Rinse mouth with warm clean water, can be salted. So you remove all possible contaminants from the oral cavity and prevent infection from entering the pulp and into the body.
It is better not to throw away a chipped piece - it will help the dentist to most accurately recreate the natural shape of the tooth.
If the tooth is damaged to a significant extent and strong painful sensations, they can be removed with the help of painkillers - novocaine will be effective (you need to make a tampon with it and attach it to the sore spot), as an alternative - validol or propolis.
Disinfect any scratches in the oral cavity so that the infection does not enter the bloodstream.
If the root is broken and the tooth is loose, it is necessary to strongly compress the jaws, fixing it in the correct position.

Chip Prevention

Of course, if the chip has already occurred, you should not panic - modern medicine can work wonders and recreate your smile even in the most deplorable situation. But if at the moment everything is in order with your oral cavity, you should follow a few tips so that this problem will bypass you in the future:

Possible Complications

Very often we go to the doctor only when the pain is no longer possible to endure. Of course, this is wrong - delay in going to the dental clinic can lead to a number of negative consequences:

If a large part of the tooth has broken off, its remainder may be deformed along with the root, which will lead to a change in bite and a violation of the main function - chewing.
Pathogenic microorganisms are collected in a destroyed, even partially, tooth, which can cause both serious diseases of the oral cavity and internal organs.
If a sharp edge is formed as a result of a chip, it will constantly scratch the gum, causing stomatitis with large ulcers.
If a damaged tooth is left untreated, sooner or later a whole part of it will collapse, and the tooth will have to be removed.

As you can see, even minor cracks on the surface of the enamel can lead to serious consequences. Therefore, do not ignore preventive visits to the dentist. Follow the basic rules of oral hygiene, and a healthy snow-white smile is guaranteed to you.

Every person has experienced trauma. It is not always possible to notice when a piece of tooth has broken off. A thorough examination of the oral cavity allows you to see scratches and chips. In addition to minor injuries, there may be fractures. In this case, you need to know why the teeth break off. After all, mechanical damage is not the only reason.

Why do chips occur?

The dentist involved in the treatment must know what caused the tooth to break off. This will help the specialist to choose the right method of treatment and restoration. Teeth chip when:

injury (fall and blow);
there are abnormal bite pathologies;
there was a violation of the hormonal background;
have chronic diseases;
have bad habits;
the structures that the orthodontist installed are used incorrectly;
there is demineralization of tooth enamel;
weakened immunity;
harmful products are used;
there is a low level of acidity in the oral cavity;
neighboring teeth are infected;
have caries;
seal is damaged;
a crack has been formed for a long time.

Minor damage can be done daily. The reasons are different. When tooth enamel is weakened, hot and cold drinks and food have a negative effect on it. They lead to the fact that a small piece breaks off, which a person will see sooner or later. The right diet helps to strengthen tooth enamel.

If minerals and trace elements are supplied in small quantities, then the enamel becomes weak. Due to demineralization, part of the tooth may break off. When chewing food, the lower and upper teeth are damaged against each other, if there is an incorrect bite. In such a situation, a rattle occurs at night, due to which the enamel begins to chip off. When a piece has broken off to the gum, caries of a complex shape will develop in this area.

In the process of restoring the area where the enamel has chipped or a crack has formed, the type of injury is taken into account. The choice of method for restoring the inner and outer regions depends on the severity of the damage. There are 3 categories of damage.

Minimal - scratches and cracks, in which only the enamel on the tooth broke off.
Medium - damage in which dentin is destroyed.
Severe - trauma to the pulp.

Damage is attributed to one of the types and a method of treatment is chosen. The patient needs to contact the dentist immediately after a piece of tooth has broken off in order to avoid complications.

Therapeutic measures

The front teeth are most prone to chipping, because they bite off food. In addition, this area of the face accounts for not a small part of domestic injuries. What to do if a piece of the front tooth has broken off? In this case, both a small crack on the front tooth and a complete chipping of the crown part may appear. The smile zone with a chipped front tooth looks very unaesthetic. Its treatment depends on the level of severity.

When there are minor enamel chips on the tooth that do not affect the condition of the inner layers, the problem is solved by building up using composite materials. They are the same as for fillings. These composites become hard when exposed to light. The procedure does not last long and does not bring pain, and the chipped parts will be restored. After preparing the damaged area, the composite material is applied layer by layer.
A dentist can use lumineers and veneers to restore a chipped tooth. They are thin plates installed instead of the front part, which broke off, and some side ones. Most often, onlays are glued when a piece of the front tooth has broken off. According to external data, they are an imitation of the natural color of enamel. Veneers differ from Lumineers only in thickness. These products help to restore the outer side of the tooth.
Another method of treatment was the installation of crowns. This method is used in the case when the inner layers have undergone destruction, and half of the tooth has broken off. Before restoring the crown, the pulp is removed, the root canals are cleaned and sealed. If the crown part of the tooth was completely damaged, then implantation is used.
For the treatment of posterior teeth, similar methods are used. In this case, veneers cannot be used, but there are other methods of restoration. At the same time, attention is paid to their functionality, and not aesthetic data. In most cases, the posterior tooth is restored with a composite material used for filling. Sharp edges with a filling are ground with special tools so that soft tissue injury does not occur.

If the tooth is a molar, and the chip affects the chewing part, ceramic tabs are installed. They help restore the surface. In case of serious injuries, when the root of the tooth is damaged, crowns and bridges are used. Implantation in this case is the most reliable treatment option. When a wisdom tooth breaks off, it may not be restored, and there are reasons for this. These bone elements are not subjected to a serious load, therefore, the restoration of small injuries, when a piece of enamel has broken off, is carried out, and in case of a serious injury, the tooth is removed.

First steps after a chipped tooth

What to do when a piece of tooth breaks off? Everyone should know how to deal with chips and breakage. First of all, you need to calm down and not panic. The next step is to rinse your mouth. To do this, you can use a weak saline solution or warm water. The procedure allows you to remove blood, broken enamel, food debris and dirt from your mouth. Rinse is repeated 2-3 times a day before visiting the dentist.

In this case, it is necessary to clean the oral cavity twice a day, but be careful with the remaining pieces. When a broken shard is found, it can be saved. Especially if the violation is significant. It can be used to restore the original shape of the crown. When there is damage and there is severe pain, it is not recommended to delay the visit to the dentist.

Temporary relief in a situation where the wall of the tooth has broken off can be brought by taking painkillers. A strong effect is observed when using a tampon, which is moistened in novocaine. It is applied to the damaged area for a short period of time. A tablet of Validol or natural propolis will help make the pain less noticeable.

It is very important to disinfect injuries: scratches, cuts of the mucous membrane and lips. The procedure is carried out to prevent the penetration of infection into the blood. But the most important thing you should do is visit the dentist as soon as possible. Even if the enamel on your tooth has slightly chipped off, there is no need to delay the treatment.

What complications can arise?

Even if help was provided in a timely manner within the walls of the house, when a piece of tooth broke off, the patient should visit the dentist. In addition to aesthetic problems, complications may appear, including:

inflammation;
pulp infection;
increased sensitivity in the area of destruction;
root fracture or bend;
tooth mobility;
improper closure of the dentition;
the appearance of cysts.

Negative consequences can be avoided by making an x-ray. According to its results, the doctor identifies the breakaway area and other damage. When there are violations, the dentist prescribes a course of treatment.

To avoid a situation where teeth begin to break off, it is worth considering the recommendations:

timely treat carious destruction;
observe proper nutrition;
monitor the state of health;
timely correct the bite;
avoid situations where mechanical damage can be obtained.

Remember the most important conclusion from this article. If a piece of tooth has broken off, it is necessary to start treatment. It is easier to deal with the problem in a timely manner than to deal with its consequences for a long time. The high level of development of dentistry guarantees you a solution to any problem associated with chipped and broken teeth.

If a piece of tooth is chippedmany patients think what to do nothing is needed until problem will not cause serious discomfort. This opinion is incorrect, as soon as a defect appears, you need to visit a dentist. Enamel chipping often appears against the background of chronic disorders, which also require correction.

How do teeth break off?

It will be obvious only if a large element of the cutter is lost or fang. If the injuries are minimal, it is difficult to see the problem with the naked eye, you can only understand about it by the accompanying symptoms.

The following signs indicate that a tooth has chipped:

hypersensitivity;
painful sensations;
swelling and bleeding of the gums.

Symptoms can be expressed in varying degrees, depending on the scale of the problem. Pain may appear on rare occasions. cases , with excessive irritation, and can be intense and permanent if a large piece of the tooth has broken off. There are three destruction type:

crack;
enamel chip;
dentin chip.

If the tooth is just starting to break off, a crack appears in the enamel, the so-called incomplete chip, the person does not feel discomfort. A chipped enamel can occasionally cause pain when drinking hot or cold drinks. Only when the next layer, dentin, is affected, when chewing hot or highly acidic food, the damage will make itself felt. A molar or incisor may split completely, and a small fragment may be lost. If a piece of the tooth breaks off and the pulp is exposed, what you can’t do is try to solve the problem on your own: you need to completely remove the molar, it is rarely possible to restore the crown.

Causes of pathology

With a question why do teeth chip, faced by many. Most of all, parents are worried if the disease overtakes the kids. Often a loss parts canines and molars brings aesthetic discomfort, it is much more dangerous when the chipped area injures the surrounding tissues.

Reasons why broke away piece or whole cracked tooth, several:

dental pathologies and anomalies;
traumatization;
lack of calcium and other useful elements;
reduced level of immunity;
hormone imbalance.

Some scientists consider one of the reasons for the frequent chipping decreased acidity of the oral cavity.

When a tooth breaks off on the sides of the gum, malocclusion or caries is more often observed. T crack or break the tip of the incisor can, when trying to gnaw a hard object or untie a knot with his teeth.

What to do?

In a situation when a canine or chewing tooth has broken off, in the doctor comes first . But before going to him, you need to take care of the implementation of some rules. First,what to do if a piece of tooth breaks offis to rinse the mouth. For cleansing, ordinary boiled water of an acceptable temperature is suitable.

If there is bleeding, apply a cotton swab to the place where the tooth broke off, damage.
Use anti-inflammatory dental ointments or creams.
Apply ice to the injury site.
Take painkillers.

In the event that the tooth that has broken off does not disturb, you need to get to the dentist to make sure that there is no inflammatory process and other pathologies. The question of the need to visit the dentist disappears, if chipped off a piece of front toothan cosmetic defect can destroy promising plans, so it is necessary recovery affected area, what to do it will take several stages.

Participation of the dentist in the treatment

Dentistry offers a range of services to improve the situation.What will a dentist do if a tooth breaks off?depends on the type and extent of the problem.

cracked a tooth, if the damage is minor, can be restored, that is, masked, restoring the structure and shape. Restoration includes the following complementary methods:

veneers;
tabs.

The first most popular correction method is veneers, the second most effective was the use of special tabs. In difficult cases, if a large piece of the tooth has broken off, prosthetics are used.

In Moscow and other large cities, it is possible to restore a damaged dental structure within one working day.

Extension of a tooth fragment

RestoreThe shape of the lost part of the dentist will be using a special material that can harden as soon as possible under the influence of a photopolymer lamp. The method is suitable in the situation when it is too early to install the crown, that is, a small piece of the tooth has broken off.

Recovery goes like this:

The shade of the material is selected, it should be as close as possible to the color of the remaining area.
The material is applied in layers, the shape is restored with tools.
Minor inaccuracies of the new fragment are polished, the surface should be smooth.

The procedure rarely takes more than 3 hours.

Veneers

Veneers are suitable if there are cracks, pieces chip didn't start. Thin overlays made of ceramic or composite are installed on the damaged area, thereby slightly correcting the color and the lost shape. Effective veneers will be with the wrong bite.

For the correct installation of the plates, it is necessary to visit the dentist several times;

Tabs

Veneers and extensions are relevant for incisors and canines, for chewing painters, invisible to the eye, special tabs are suitable. These are the same seals, but they are installed differently. In the dental office, a kind of filler is produced according to the cast, and later it is installed on the tooth from which the fragment has broken off. The only condition for installing the tab is that the lost fragment is less than 50%.

If a large piece of the tooth has broken off, crowns will help

Metal-ceramic or zirconium crowns are suitable if a significant piece of the tooth has broken off, or it has completely split. Ideal for damaged incisors and canines. The artificial part made in the laboratory is attached in the oral cavity to the pin or to the root, if it has not been lost. Crowns can be made from different materials, differing in price and quality.

If a piece of a tooth has broken off, you should not worry, you should seek help from specialists as soon as possible. Inaction in this matter may not be beneficial for a person, since the development of concomitant pathologies of the oral cavity is possible.

A chipped tooth leads a person to panic and fear. A visit to the dentist in this state is postponed by many, unfortunately, for an indefinite period.

It is much better to respond to tooth damage immediately and fix it than to fall into a stalemate later.

Modern dentistry, in the arsenal of which there are high-quality materials and modern technologies, makes it possible to eliminate a chip of any complexity in a short time and almost painlessly and restore the functionality of the tooth.

A tooth cannot break off for no reason. There are many negative factors that cause the appearance of a chip:

remineralization (washout of macro- and microelements) of enamel;
strong mechanical impact or damage;
weakening of dental tissue due to the frequent use of carbonated drinks and foods containing acids and sugars;
low acidity in the mouth;
calcium deficiency in the body (especially during pregnancy and menopause);
diseases of the teeth and oral cavity;
broken bite;
the presence of bad habits;
hormonal disorder;
weak immunity;
chronic diseases of internal organs or their special condition;
love for too cold or hot food.

A small crack in the enamel caused by one or more of these factors can lead to chipping over time.

Kinds

Enamel is the hardest bone material in the body. But it can also crack and break off under the influence of certain factors. The following types of chips are distinguished:

Enamel chip- is the most minor injury, characterized by a small injury that is difficult to detect on its own.
It does not violate the aesthetics and initially does not cause pain and anxiety.

If you ignore it and do not go to the dentist, over time, such a violation will lead to a lot of diseases and tooth decay.
Dentin chip(mineralized hard tissue located above the pulp). More severe damage, which is much easier to detect (a significant part breaks off).
Violation of integrity may not immediately cause pain, but tooth sensitivity to hot, cold, sour and sweet will gradually increase.
Chip in the pulp chamber- is considered the most dangerous type of injury, in which nerve endings are exposed.
Damage is accompanied by sharp severe pain, and painkillers only temporarily relieve it. After the opening of the pulp, the tooth can function normally for up to 5 hours, then death occurs.

Important: any damage is a reason for an immediate visit to the dentist. Even a slight violation of integrity is fraught with the development of negative consequences.

How to proceed before going to the dentist

If you have a chip, you need to visit a dentist as soon as possible. At home, in order to avoid the development of unpleasant consequences, a number of measures should be taken to help reduce pain.

Many people think that restoring a chipped tooth is an expensive procedure, but delaying a visit to the dentist only makes the situation worse. In the following video, we will be told why an immediate medical examination is so important:

First aid includes:

rinsing the mouth with lukewarm water or a weak salt solution up to three times a day (the procedure will help remove blood, dirt, food debris);
daily brushing of teeth and rinsing them between meals (in the place of damage, this should be done more carefully);
applying a cold compress to reduce swelling of the gums;
preservation of a piece of tooth (if the chip is quite significant);
disinfection of scratches, cuts of the oral mucosa, to avoid infection.

In order not to hurt the tooth, you should take painkillers. To reduce the manifestation of pain will also help:

If the tooth is also very loose, it is possible that the root is additionally broken. The first thing to do is to fix it: gently, but strongly squeeze the jaws. Then apply an ice compress on top of it.

Unfortunately, there is nothing more you can do on your own. All other actions for the treatment and restoration of enamel are taken only by a doctor!

Recovery methods

When restoring the aesthetics of the dentition by dentists different methods of restoration are used:

composite material;
tabs;
veneers and lumineers;
crowns.

Composite material

It is used for minor chips and breaks that do not affect the inner layers. The materials used are composites that acquire their final form after exposure to light radiation.

The doctor works with this material in a direct way - in the patient's oral cavity.

The procedure is completely painless and performed quickly. The dentist applies a pre-prepared material to the tooth site. The patient acquires a ready tooth after 30-50 minutes of the doctor's work.

Veneers and Lumineers

Used to mask chips on the side and front teeth. Covering them, these plates not only restore beauty to the smile, but also further enhance the strength of the enamel.

Made of translucent materials (usually ceramics). Outwardly, these overlays resemble enamel, but the difference between them is that lumineers are thinner.

Their wide range of colors allows the doctor to accurately select a shade that is close to the natural color of the enamel. With their help, it is possible to preserve the thickness of the enamel as much as possible, they are convenient to use.

Their installation takes place in several visits to the dentist. First, the tooth is slightly ground, a small layer of enamel is removed.

Then veneers (Lumineers) are made according to the cast, followed by their fitting. The fixation of finished overlays is carried out with a special cement or gel.

Crowns

Installation is carried out in case of serious damage to the inner layers of the tooth and a strong breakdown of the crown part (almost half).

Crowns are made of modern ceramic-metal materials to match the natural color of the enamel. Such crowns are quite durable and look aesthetically pleasing. In some cases, they are used in conjunction with fillings.

The recovery process is long and can take up to two weeks.

Before placing them, the doctor takes an impression, removes the pulp, cleans the root canals and fills them.

A crown is made from the impression in the laboratory. After its fitting, it is fixed on the tooth with a special cement composition.

Tabs

This is an affordable, fast, reliable way of restoration. They are used for minor damage to the tooth. Tabs are a fragment of the destroyed part of the tooth.

In some cases, they can be combined with prostheses and crowns. The inlays are fixed with dental cement followed by polishing.

Which method of recovery will be chosen, only the doctor decides. His decision depends on the extent of the damage.

Prevention

Eat right and balanced.
Visit the dentist at least once a year and treat any diseases that have arisen.
Carry out daily hygiene procedures of the oral cavity.
Take multivitamin complexes to strengthen immunity and reduce the risk of enamel thinning.
Lead an active and healthy lifestyle.
When engaging in traumatic sports, use devices that protect the dentition.
Avoid the presence in the diet of nuts, lollipops, sweets with a stretchy filling.
Timely treat diseases of internal organs and their systems.

Healthy teeth mean a beautiful and attractive smile, good health, good mood. It's important to remember this.

Complications

A visit to the dentist is necessary not only for the treatment and restoration of a damaged tooth. The doctor will also help to solve the aesthetic problem, and most importantly - to avoid the development of complications.

The accompanying cleavage complications are:

The development of inflammation due to infection in the pulp.
Enhanced sensitivity.
The bending (fracture) of its roots caused by the deformation of the tooth.
Violation of occlusion, leading to the gradual destruction of teeth and poor-quality chewing of food.
The appearance of caries, periodontitis, pulpitis.
The development of diseases of the heart, kidneys, liver, stomach due to progressive inflammation of pulpitis.
Formation of granulomas and cysts.

To avoid the development of such complications, the patient is always asked to perform an x-ray to rule out or confirm the disorder. If a chip is present, then in the near future it is necessary to deal with its elimination.

In children

Milk teeth, unfortunately, are no less prone to damage than indigenous teeth. And the main reason for the violation of integrity is the mobility of children.

Unsuccessfully falling, they injure any part of the body, including teeth. The anterior incisors are the first to be hit.

If the baby has a piece broken off, parents should adhere to the following recommendations:

Do not panic.
Rinse to remove dirt that has entered the mouth.
Disinfect the wound, tongue, cheeks, gums with hydrogen peroxide (in addition to peroxide, the child can be offered to rinse his mouth with decoctions of calendula and chamomile).
Save the piece if possible.

It is dangerous to assume that a chip on a milk tooth is not dangerous. In the future (at an older age), it can lead to a change in bite, loss of molars, and the development of inflammation. Therefore, it is important to contact a pediatric dentist in the coming hours.

The doctor after examining the chip does anesthesia and directs for x-rays. The resulting image will help determine the position of the root, identify the condition of the jaw and tissues after injury.

The restoration method is selected based on the degree of damage. If a slight disturbance is present on the incisors, the dentist may use a special gel that "preserves" this tooth until it is completely healed.

The peculiarity of the structure of milk teeth allows, even with severe damage, not to remove the pulp.

Babies can be given fluoridation, silvering, fillings, veneers (for older children), and restoration with light-curing materials.

Not everyone knows what to do if a piece of tooth has broken off, where to go and how much the repair costs. Many people face such a problem throughout their lives, and not in all situations they can immediately seek help from a dental clinic.

Sometimes a person may not even notice the very moment of damage, and discovers a chip only after a few hours. Such violations of the dental structure can be manifested by very unpleasant symptoms: soreness of the damaged area or gums, injury to the tongue and lips by the sharp edge of the chip, followed by the development of inflammation in the oral cavity. Therefore, the sooner you get the help you need, the less likely you are to develop complications.

Causes

Why can a tooth break off? There are many reasons for this:

mechanical injury: impact, fall, etc.;
biting too hard food, biting off threads and plastic elements;
weak enamel structure, leading to damage even with minimal exposure;
untreated inflammatory dental diseases: caries, pulpitis;
bite anomalies, in which the dental crowns press against each other, gradually weakening the adjacent dental areas from the inside.

The following factors contribute to the weakening of dental tissue:

a decrease in the calcium content in the teeth (more often occurs in pregnant women, nursing mothers and women during menopause);
excessive consumption of sweet or sour foods, due to which the enamel becomes weak;
immune deficiency;
hormonal disorders;
bad habits;
incorrect setting of the seal or exceeding its service life.

Types of chips

Incomplete chip - enamel microcrack. Usually does not cause discomfort and often goes unnoticed. This is the danger: microbes multiply in the crack, which gradually destroy the dental tissues.
Enamel chipping is the loss of a small piece of enamel, which also does not give obvious pain, but can scratch the soft tissues of the oral cavity (tongue, lips). Sometimes the enamel breaks off along with the previously installed filling.
Skol. In this case, the tooth usually hurts, the pain is aching in nature and increases with chewing load. If the chip is not treated for a long time, then infectious complications from the pulp are possible.
A chip extending into the pulp chamber. In such a situation, the tooth actually splits, blood vessels and nerve fibers are exposed, which is accompanied by severe pain and accelerated development of the inflammatory process.

What to do before visiting the clinic?

It is better not to postpone a visit to the dentist after a tooth injury. However, it is far from always possible to quickly get an appointment, but it is still necessary to eliminate discomfort and prevent possible complications. To do this, you must take the following steps:

Rinse your mouth with water to remove small dental chips, food particles and bacteria; salt water can be used for this purpose.
If the gum is also injured, it should be rinsed with an antiseptic solution and a gauze swab soaked in cold water should be applied to stop the bleeding.
When a tooth breaks off and scratches the tongue, it is also desirable to isolate it from the surrounding tissues using a cotton swab.
In case of severe pain, a compress with a local anesthetic (novocaine, lidocaine) is applied to the fracture area and painkillers are taken (,).
Before a visit to the doctor, it is especially necessary to observe for the oral cavity: regularly, rinse your mouth after eating, take only sparing food of medium temperature and soft consistency.
If there is damage to the dentin and pulp, it is impossible to postpone a visit to the dental clinic, not only because of pain, but also because of the high risk of infection. If the tooth fragment is large enough, it should be saved and shown to the doctor, which will facilitate the restoration of the natural tooth shape.

Recovery methods and repair cost

The choice of restoration technique depends on the location of the damaged tooth unit. Treatment methods will also be different for chipped permanent and milk teeth in children.

Injury to the anterior dentition

used for damage within the tooth enamel. Composites are layer-by-layer superimposed on a pre-treated scrap area and harden under the influence of special directional light sources. Composites are carefully selected by color, and the final result is often indistinguishable from one's own enamel. This service is the most affordable. Its cost in Moscow averages 4000-4500 rubles.
The use of veneers, lumineers are thin overlays that repeat the shape of incisors or canines, installed on the front tooth surface. They can be made from various materials (composites, ceramics). are more subtle and practically do not require preliminary grinding of the tooth surface. The cost of installing veneers on average starts from 12,000 rubles, lumineers - from 20,000.
Crowns are intended for the restoration of significant dental damage, more than half of the area. They are casts of an incisor or canine, repeating their physiological shape, made from various materials. Previously, the tooth is depulped, the root canals are cleaned. The cost of a crown made of metal-plastic is from 3,000, zirconium dioxide crowns cost about 25,000 rubles.
necessary in case of complete destruction of the dental crown. In this case, an implant is installed in the jaw tissue, and then prosthetics are performed. The price directly for the implantation procedure averages 30,000, prosthetics - from 12,000 rubles.

Damage to the posterior chewing surfaces

Installation of seals from dental composites is used for mild forms of chips, limited by enamel.
Dental inlays are used when half of the crown area is damaged. Inlays are voluminous fillings made of composite, ceramic, metal or strong synthetics. Depending on the materials used, the cost of the service varies from 5,000 to 15,000 rubles.
Crowns and bridges are used for extensive fractures, often due to trauma.
Implantation is the most durable method of dental restoration in case of complete loss of the crown part.

In case of significant damage to the “wisdom tooth”, it is usually not restored, since it does not carry a significant chewing load. Restoration is possible only with small chips of enamel.

Complications

The development of complications can lead to the impossibility of restoring the tooth, so timely contact with the dentist is extremely important.

Video: a tooth broke - dentist's advice.

Prevention

Carefully monitor the hygienic condition of the oral cavity: brush your teeth regularly, use floss, mouth rinses, visit the dentist at least 1 time in six months for carrying out;
Eat a balanced diet: food must contain minerals and trace elements that ensure the strength of dental tissue. You can not neglect dairy products, nuts, seafood, eat a lot of sweet and sour foods.
Do not expose your teeth to excessive loads: do not crack nuts, hard candies, items that are not intended for food (threads, knots, plastic).
Do not drink or eat too hot and cold food, which causes softening of the enamel. Its simultaneous use is especially harmful, for example, when drinking ice cream with hot tea.
To refuse from bad habits.
Monitor previously installed fillings, periodically check them with a dentist for tightness and cracks.
Do not forget to use protective pads when doing traumatic sports.
Timely correct (if possible) bite anomalies, until they lead to tooth decay.
If possible, correct hormonal disruptions on the recommendation of a doctor.

Broken baby tooth

Chipped milk teeth in children 1-2 years of age is a frequent phenomenon due to their mobility and uncoordinated movements. A common misconception among many parents is that milk teeth need not be treated. In fact, if they are damaged, it is advisable to contact the dentist within the first day. Up to this point, the site of injury must be disinfected.

The doctor will examine the site of the chip, if necessary, prescribe an x-ray to rule out deeper damage. With small chips and cracks, it is possible to use a special preservation gel that restores dental tissues and prevents the spread of microbes deep into the tooth.

In case of more serious chips, a composite filling is placed, which will strengthen the tooth until it falls out. The pulp is removed very rarely for children, only with extensive injuries, since it has a high ability to regenerate and in 95% of cases it is restored without removal of the neurovascular bundle.