Whether you’re hit in the face while playing a sport, you slip and fall, or you crack a tooth while eating a hard piece of food, a broken or chipped tooth can happen when you least expect it. And it’s important to know how to respond and protect your oral health.

So read on, and learn about the 5 steps Mint Dental recommends you take after you break or chip a tooth.

In This Article:

1. 1. Don’t Panic – Start By Rinsing Out Your Mouth
2. 2. Recover The Tooth Fragments, If Possible
3. 3. Call Mint Dental For A Same-Day Emergency Appointment
4. 4. Take Steps To Treat Bleeding, Pain, And Discomfort
5. 5. Come To Our Office To Get Treatment From Dr. Marwa Or Dr. Tiwana
6. 5 Treatment Options on How Does A Dentist Fix a Chipped Tooth
   1. 1. Composite Bonding
      1. 2. Root Canals
      2. 3. Dental Crowns or Caps
      3. 4. Porcelain Veneers
      4. 5. Dental Implants
7. Can You Eat With a Chipped Tooth?
8. Get Emergency Dental Care In Edina From Mint Dental Today

1. Don’t Panic – Start By Rinsing Out Your Mouth

First, try to remain calm. Chipped and broken teeth are painful and inconvenient, but with proper, prompt dental care, your tooth will be just fine.

The first thing you should do is rinse out your mouth to remove blood, debris, and other potential contaminants. This will also let you get a better look at the severity of the chip or break in your tooth.

2. Recover The Tooth Fragments, If Possible

This is an optional step. But if you can recover the tooth fragments, Dr. Marwa may be able to bond them back to your tooth, which simplifies the process of repairing a minor chip. This is usually not an option for severely broken teeth, though.

3. Call Mint Dental For A Same-Day Emergency Appointment

You can’t treat a chipped or broken tooth on your own. You need to see a dentist. So call Mint Dental in Edina at (952) 831-1332 to schedule a same-day emergency appointment with Dr. Marwa or Dr. Tiwana.

Same-day care from an emergency dentist will ensure the best possible outcome for your chipped or broken tooth and will help you get relief from your pain and discomfort, so don’t delay. We always have appointments ready for emergency patients in Edina.

4. Take Steps To Treat Bleeding, Pain, And Discomfort

Once you’ve scheduled your appointment, you can take a few steps to treat your pain and discomfort. If you’re bleeding, use clean gauze, cotton balls, or a paper towel to apply gently, even pressure to the injury site.

You can take some over-the-counter pain medication like ibuprofen to help with your pain, or an over-the-counter topical numbing treatment like Orajel. Applying an ice pack to the outside of your mouth near the affected tooth will also help with pain and discomfort.

5. Come To Our Office To Get Treatment From Dr. Marwa Or Dr. Tiwana

The above steps will only provide you with temporary relief. To restore your smile permanently, you’ll need to come to our office, so visit Mint Dental as soon as you can for your same-day emergency appointment.

Depending on the severity of your chipped or broken tooth, Dr. Tiwana or Dr. Marwa may be able to use a wide variety of treatments to restore it, such as dental bonding, veneers, root canal therapy, and dental crowns.

5 Treatment Options on How Does A Dentist Fix a Chipped Tooth

When it comes to fixing a chipped tooth, there are five treatment options to do it, depending on how bad the damage is. Your dentist will evaluate your situation and recommend the best solution for your chipped tooth. So, let’s get into the treatment options on how a dentist fixes a chipped tooth.

1. Composite Bonding

For a long time, bonding has been a go-to solution for dentists for fixing decayed or stained teeth. But did you know it’s also a great option for restoring chipped or broken teeth? 

If you only have minor enamel damage, your dentist may be able to work their magic by applying a filling. And if the chip is on a front tooth, they can fix it with a composite resin that matches the color of your teeth.

Bonding is the process of putting a composite resin on teeth that are stained, broken, cracked, or chipped. The resin bonds to the tooth to create a protective, natural-looking layer. With proper care, bonding can last up to 10 years without showing any signs of wear or discoloration. 

2. Root Canals

Most people get scared when they hear the words “root canal.” But modern dentistry has made the process almost painless and less scary than it might sound.

A root canal is often the only way to fix a tooth that is badly broken or damaged. Your doctor will remove any infected or broken parts of the root canal and replace them with new, clean parts that can’t get infected.

After the procedure,  your doctor recommends you have a crown to protect it and make it look natural.

3. Dental Crowns or Caps

When you’ve lost a lot of portion of your tooth, your dentist may recommend a procedure in which they remove some part of the remaining tooth and put a crown over it. The crown protects the tooth, maintains its function, and enhances its overall appearance.

When the damage is worse, and the tooth’s pulp is exposed, you may get an infection or damage the pulp. In these cases, your dentist may suggest root canal therapy to remove any dead or damaged pulp before putting a crown on top.

4. Porcelain Veneers

Now, if you want a more natural-looking treatment for your chipped tooth, your dentist will recommend you have porcelain veneers. Veneers are a popular cosmetic solution that involves applying a thin layer of customized porcelain or composite resin to the surface of your teeth to improve their appearance.

Veneers can hide dental imperfections, including chips, cracks, gaps, and discoloration. They have become increasingly popular due to their natural-looking and long-lasting results, lasting up to 30 years with proper care.

While veneers can be more expensive than other treatments, they provide the most attractive and natural results. It is a worthwhile investment if you want to enhance your natural smile. 

5. Dental Implants

Sometimes a chipped tooth can become so damaged that it extends below the gum line. And it will leave your dentist no choice but tooth extraction. Although your dentists will make every effort to save a tooth, there may be instances where it is best for your general health to have the tooth extracted. 

When this happens, a dental implant often replaces the missing tooth. It is important to thoroughly discuss with your dentist before having a tooth extraction and dental implant. It is a serious choice that you should not make lightly.

Can You Eat With a Chipped Tooth?

You might be wondering if you can still eat with a chipped tooth. Well, it depends on how bad the chip is and where the tooth is located. You can chew your food on the other side of your mouth to avoid putting pressure on the damaged tooth. If you’re not able to see a dentist right away, it’s best to avoid eating or drinking anything until you can get some help. But, if you’re really hungry, you can try eating soft foods like apple sauce or mashed potatoes.

Just be careful with really hot or cold beverages and food, as your tooth might be sensitive and feel uncomfortable.

Get Emergency Dental Care In Edina From Mint Dental Today

Even a minor tooth chip can cause pain and discomfort, make it hard to eat, and increase your risk of decay. And a deeply broken tooth may cause complications like a tooth infection, which could lead to tooth loss.

So no matter how much your tooth was damaged, don’t risk it. Contact our Edina location at (952) 831-1332 to explain your situation, get a same-day appointment, and get the dental care you need.