How to Leap into Action When You’ve Chipped a Tooth

Let’s say you chip a tooth – it’s not loose, and it hasn’t fallen out of your mouth, but a heavy impact or hard object has caused some breakage. Would you know what to do?

If not, don’t worry! Not many people do. This post will walk you through the best way to proceed so that if this dental emergency ever happens to you or a loved one, you’ll be ready to leap into action.

1.     First Aid

Oftentimes dental damage is the result of impact or injury, so it’s important to check yourself for any immediate first aid needs. Swish lukewarm water around your mouth to wash out blood and debris and press a soft cloth to any oral cuts. If an open wound doesn’t stop bleeding after 10 minutes of applied pressure, go to the ER right away!

2.     Find The Chipped Fragment

Once your physical wellbeing is taken care of, it’s time to see if you can find the fractured fragment of your tooth. Your dentist may be able to reunite it with your pearly white, so taking the time to hunt for your wayward fragment is well worth it. If you manage to locate it, store it in a secure container and plan on taking it to your emergency dental appointment.

3.     Call Your Dentist

Unless you have a major injury, your dentist is going to be the best medical professional to call for a chipped tooth. While ER doctors are well-trained for general urgencies, their offices are not usually equipped with dental technology. They’ll gladly treat your wounds but will likely refer you to a local dentist for tooth repair. Calling your dentist right away will save you time and gas money!

4.     Receive Treatment

Over the phone, your friendly dental team will help you make a prompt appointment. Most practices accept same-day emergency appointments and will try their best to get you scheduled as soon as possible. After a thorough oral exam, your dentist will likely recommend one or more of the following treatments:

• Dental filling
• Dental crown
• Composite bonding
• Porcelain veneer
• Root canal
• Tooth replacement

It will simply depend on the severity of the damage and the state of the broken fragment. Note that your dental emergency team will do everything possible to salvage your pearly white, but in some cases, the tooth is no longer viable and must be extracted and replaced.

Conclusion

Oral injuries and dental damage can be alarming to say the least! Fortunately, if you forget one of the steps above or need some extra assistance, your dentist and their team will be available to help. Be sure to describe your situation in detail, and they’ll make sure you’re taken care of.

About the Practice

Drs. Frank and Jodie Rubal each have over 20 years of experience in the field of dentistry. They’ve seen plenty of dental emergencies and will know exactly what to do if you’ve chipped a tooth. With their expert care and seamless teamwork, you’ll be back to smiling and going about your normal routine in no time! To contact their office for a same-day emergency appointment, call 817-444-2585.