If a Tooth Chips, Will I Need a Root Canal?
Here at Wells Family Dental Group, we see many patients with chipped teeth. Some of the most common causes of chipped teeth include biting down on ice or other hard substances, car accidents or falls, playing contact sports like football without a mouthguard, and grinding your teeth while you sleep.
If your chip is minor, you may have no idea you have one. However, if it’s more serious, you may notice a jagged surface when you run your tongue over your teeth, gum irritation around your chipped tooth, and pain from pressure on tooth from biting. If you’re not sure whether you have a chipped tooth, it’s a good idea to visit the dentist.
There are a number of treatment options that may be effective for chipped teeth. Dr. Wells may recommend bonding which involves cementing a plastic or porcelain material to the surface of your tooth and using UV rights to harden and dry the material so that it could be shaped to perfectly match your tooth. This option can last up to 10 years.
Another possible treatment for chipped teeth may be a porcelain veneer. During this treatment, a dentist will smooth away a bit of the tooth’s enamel to make room for the veneer. Then, they’ll take an impression of your tooth and send it to a lab so that a veneer can be created. When your veneer is all set, it’ll be bonded to your tooth. Believe it or not, this option can last up to 30 years.
Recently, we’ve had a patient ask us whether a root canal is a viable treatment for a chipped teeth. The answer is no. Root canals are usually performed on patients who have severe cavities.
Contact Wells Family Dental Group
If you believe you may have a chipped tooth, you should schedule an appointment with Dr. Wells so he can determine the ideal treatment option for you. We look forward to meeting you!