When to See a Dentist About a Chipped Tooth

A chipped tooth is no laughing matter! The effects of dental chips vary depending on the size and depth of the chip, but if left untreated, they can lead to much more serious problems down the road. The best way to deal with chipped teeth is to visit your dentist right away to discuss treatment options. Read on to learn more about when you should see a dentist about chipped teeth and when you might be able to wait it out until your next routine cleaning appointment instead.

If you are not getting any relief from over-the-counter painkillers

Tooth pain is often caused by tooth decay, which is also commonly referred to as cavities. Over time, cavities can cause damage that results in an infection or abscess, which are much more painful than normal tooth pain. If you are not getting any relief from over-the-counter painkillers, it may be time to seek treatment for your chipped tooth. Your dentist will have tools at his or her disposal that can give you temporary relief until they can work on replacing or repairing your tooth in their office.

If you have a broken tooth and are unsure if you need to see your dentist, there are a few key signs that can help you decide. For example, if you’re experiencing sharp pain from your chipped tooth along with redness or swelling around it, it may be time for treatment from your dentist. Other telltale signs include significant pain when chewing on that side of your mouth or ongoing pain even after taking medication or icing. In some cases, teeth may even become sensitive when touched by ice-cold water. These are all signs that treatment is needed for chipped teeth, so it’s best to consult with an expert.

If the nerve is exposed

If you can see white areas in your tooth, those are signs that you may have chipped your tooth and exposed its nerve. Whenever that happens, it’s important to visit a dentist as soon as possible. Nerves hurt, but they can also cause more serious damage if left untreated. With exposure comes infection risk, which is another good reason for getting help ASAP. 

If you don’t see nerve damage, but your tooth still hurts and has become sensitive to hot or cold temperatures, you should still see a dentist as soon as possible. Your teeth can fracture without you even knowing it. Depending on how deep and serious your crack is, it could take more than one visit with your dentist before he or she can completely fix your tooth. But there are steps you can take in-between visits. 

If you feel like there is something stuck between your teeth

If you can feel something like food or another object stuck between your teeth, it’s probably safe to say that you need some help from your dentist. Your dentist will be able to easily remove whatever is stuck in there, and they might even be able to tell you what it was if they were able to see what was going on. Remember, never stick anything into your mouth unless your dentist gives you permission! You could cause yourself a lot of pain if you do not know what you are doing! It’s worth going in for an appointment if something seems out of place.

Request an appointment here: https://www.alluredentistry.com or call Allure Dentistry at (310) 683-5321 for an appointment in our Los Angeles office.

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