Teeth are one of the hardest parts of the human body. But they aren’t indestructible.
Chewing on a piece of ice or hard candy, falling down or being hit in the face, or accidentally biting into a foreign object like a pebble or stone can cause teeth to break or chip. Sometimes the nerve inside the tooth can become irritated, causing terrific pain. But in other cases, only the outside enamel is damaged resulting in no pain but affecting the person’s smile.
The Perils of Chipped or Broken Teeth
Having a chipped or broken tooth is no fun. For one thing, it can be distracting. It’s natural for the tongue to continually seek out the chipped or broken tooth over and over again.
For another, even if there is no pain initially if the chipped or broken tooth is left untreated, decay can get into the chipped or broken enamel, eroding the tooth and eventually affecting the nerve, resulting in a toothache.
An Easy Repair
A lot of people will wait until a chipped or broken tooth begins to hurt before making an appointment with their dentist. But by the time they finally seek treatment, enough damage may be done and the tooth may have to be pulled.
A better plan is to have chipped or broken teeth repaired right away. In many instances, the dental fix is fast and simple, often requiring only a single appointment for a dental filling or bonding. More complicated damage can require more extensive repair.
But the sooner you see your dentist after suffering from a chipped or broken tooth, the better the odds of a complete and thorough repair with no long-term consequences to your dental health. Plus, you won’t have to worry about having to hide your smile from the people you love.
