How a Dentist in Lakeland South Assesses a Chipped Tooth With No Immediate Pain

A minor chip is a surprise when you eat or brush your teeth and the tooth feels fine. It can be a rough spot when you run your tongue across your teeth, or a small bump that can be seen in the mirror. In Lakeland South, a busy life can tempt us to ignore a chip, especially if chewing doesn't seem to bother us.

If the chip is small and on the surface or doesn't change the actual structure of the tooth, then a future treatment can be decided on based on the size of the chip, its location, and how deep it is. We will discuss what's possible when checked at your dentist in Lakeland South appointment.

What Can a Painless Chipped Tooth Reveal?

Here are 5 types of chipped tooth and their causes When biting or chewing the tooth feels perfectly fine but looking at the tooth you can see that it has a chip. With magnification, your family dentist in Lakeland South can see the size of the chip. If the chip is small, it is no cause for concern.

1. How Chewing Can Chip a Tooth

You could break a small piece of the outside of your tooth by biting down on something hard or hitting your tooth on something unexpectedly solid. Tartar buildup, grinding or dental damage may have played a role in this, but a chip usually lacks all that detail.

2. Why You Might Not Immediately Feel Sensitivity from a Chip

The smallest of chips confined to the outer layer of the teeth, the enamel, may result in little or no discomfort. Damage into the dentinal tissue may be painful and may cause sensitivity, but pain cannot guide the amount of damage.

3. How Older Dental Restorations Or Wear Might Affect The Tooth

The large fillings, repetitive chewing, previous dental work or grinding of the teeth can alter the strength of the tooth. If it occurs next to a filling or crown, then the entire tooth or tooth plus restoration can be examined.

How Does a Dentist in Lakeland South Assess the Damage?

It's a good idea to take a look in detail so you can see how much of the tooth was broken off and if surrounding parts will require fixing. Your dentist may also check your bite and decide whether further tests will be useful. This will establish the suitable course of action at a dental office in Lakeland South too.

1. Consider the Size, Position And Edges Of The Chip

Another thing that the dentist can observe is the size and location of the chip, along with its sharp edges and the depth of the chip. The placement can lead to additional insight as to what treatment options could be best for your tooth.

2. Examination of the Bite and the Nearby Tooth Architecture

The dentist might be able to see how the upper and lower teeth fit together with the teeth set in a normal bite. The dentist also might see evidence of grinding, such as surface wear that presses against the chip.

3. Determining if Imaging or Additional Tests are Necessary

The test results may tell them if X-rays or other procedures are able to reveal or cause damage beneath the surface. Other tests are not needed for a small chip, but imaging could be helpful when the dentist is thinking about root damage or damage that can't be seen.

What Should Patients Do After Noticing a Chip?

While awaiting dentist treatment, do not bite on hard foods on that side. Avoid using that part of your mouth until you can be evaluated by the dentist. Leave the surface unfiled and do not use a nail file or other tool to file the surface of the tooth; instead, try a dental wax to temporarily cover the rough surface of the tooth until you can be evaluated.

Depending on the findings, a dental clinic in Lakeland South may suggest watchful waiting, smoothing of the sharp edges, bonding or a more in-depth restoration. However, its better to seek immediate assistance for either of these new episodes of pain and swelling, or if a hard blow causes a chip.

When To Ask About A Chipped Tooth

Initially, small chips may not seem like a big deal, even when you're experiencing no other symptoms and the tooth feels just fine during normal activity. However, there are a few signs to watch for that might make a trip to the dentist worth your while.

• This could mean you are missing a large chunk, or perhaps a darker layer is now visible.

• You might still catch the tooth on your tongue, cheek, or lip when you talk or chew.

• Eat and drink cold and hot within a short time after you discover the chip.

• The injury can occur from falling, hitting, or being struck in the mouth.

These signs do not mean that there's been significant destruction to the tooth. When you come to the dentist, they can take the signs as well as the appearance of the tooth, of course, your symptoms and your history and then advise you on the way to go.

Small Chip deserves a second look

A dentist in Lakeland South can provide you with some perspective of a painless chip or a dent that can be observed rather than addressed. The color of the tooth can't be your only guide to damage. Do your best to avoid biting down too hard while you eat until you consult with us, and it may, in fact, prove that you simply need observation rather than something more.