What Should I Do If I Chip My Tooth?

At Gables Exceptional Dentistry, patients often ask, “What should I do if I chip my tooth?” A chipped tooth is a fairly common problem. If you live in the Coral Gables, FL area, we encourage you to call (305) 614-2438 as soon as your tooth becomes chipped. As an emergency dentist, we can examine your tooth and treat you right away.

A chipped tooth is a dental emergency, and the first thing we want to do is determine how serious the damage is. To do so, we will ask you several questions when you call. Then, we will get you an appointment as soon as possible.

Is a Chipped Tooth Painful?

You may or may not be in pain after chipping a tooth. The degree of pain you feel depends on the extent of the chip, where your tooth was chipped, and which tooth was damaged. Some people, for example, lightly chip a tooth when eating something extremely hard or crunchy. If the chip is small, you may not notice it until you brush and floss your teeth. If you feel pain after chipping a tooth, call our dental office in Coral Gables, FL immediately. Pain is your body’s way of alerting you to a problem. When you allow our expert restorative dentist to fix your tooth, you eliminate your risk of infection and further damage.

What to Do If a Chipped Tooth Is Bleeding

Visit Gables Exceptional Dentistry immediately if you notice that your tooth has become chipped and you are also bleeding. This could be an indication that you have suffered more dental damage than what you can see. Rinse your mouth out with warm salt water and, if the bleeding persists, come on in.

What to Do If Your Child’s Tooth Is Chipped

When your child chips a tooth, it is important to act quickly to minimize pain and potential infection. Children tend to be more sensitive to discomfort, so we recommend getting dental damage repaired on the same day it occurs, whenever possible.

Steps to Take After Chipping a Tooth

The following is a general guide for how to deal with a chipped tooth.

Step #1

As soon as you can, rinse your mouth with warm saltwater to remove debris and any surface blood and reduce your risk of infection.

Step #2

Place a piece of gauze or a small, clean rag in your mouth and press on the area if it is bleeding. Applying light pressure may also help ease your discomfort.

Step #3

As a cosmetic dentist in Coral Gables, FL, we prefer to simply treat your tooth and restore it immediately. However, if you cannot get to Gables Exceptional Dentistry right away because you are traveling, have a busy day at work, or simply cannot find the time to come in, you can purchase dental cement at many drugstores and use it to temporarily cover the damaged tooth. Just be sure to visit our dental office as soon as you are able.

Step #4

Call our cosmetic dentistry services office in Coral Gables, FL at (305) 614-2438 and schedule an appointment to be seen as soon as possible. We will do our best to work around your schedule so you can have your tooth restored immediately.

How We Restore Chipped Teeth

When looking for a “dentist near me” to treat a chipped tooth, be sure to visit a cosmetic dentist. Gables Exceptional Dentistry is an emergency dentist and a cosmetic dentist, which means we can treat you right away while also restoring your tooth so it looks perfectly natural.

Depending on the extent of the damage, the location of the tooth, and your needs, we will recommend one of several cosmetic dentistry treatment options, including:

Dental bonding

We use dental bonding to restore chipped teeth in children and adults. Dental bonding is the fastest way to repair a chipped tooth because we can complete it in one visit. We apply tooth-colored bonding material to the damaged tooth, shape it, and then harden it for a natural-looking restoration.

Dental veneers

Many of the adults who visit our cosmetic dentist office prefer to repair their chipped teeth with dental veneers. We often use veneers to restore chipped teeth, cover dark stains, close gaps between teeth, and fix other cosmetic flaws.

Dental crowns and bridges

If you have lost a tooth in addition to damaging one, we can use a dental crown and bridge to repair the damage and then replace your missing tooth. This combination solution will restore the appearance and function of your smile.

Improve Your Smile

When visiting Gables Exceptional Dentistry for a chipped tooth, let us know if you would also like to improve your smile. We can offer you a quick teeth whitening treatment that will brighten your smile and boost your self-confidence. When combined with a dental restoration, professional teeth whitening is an excellent way to enhance your appearance.

Call Us

The best thing you can do after you have damaged a tooth in any way is to call our practice. At Gables Exceptional Dentistry, we always try to treat you right away so you do not experience unnecessary discomfort. We will do everything in our power to make your restoration beautiful and natural looking. To schedule an appointment, call (305) 614-2438.

Request an Appointment