Sometimes an accidental blow to the mouth, grinding teeth or a bad habit like chewing on pens and pencils can exert enough force to chip a tooth’s enamel layer. While many of these incidents cause significant dental trauma, there are still sometimes when the damage is minor and limited to a non-critical surface of a tooth.
Yet you shouldn’t let the lack of discomfort or sensitivity lull you into forgoing professional treatment. If the compromised area isn’t sealed the abnormal textures in the tooth’s enamel could trap bacterial deposits which are can foster a severe cavity.
Even if the defect is minor it’s best to have the chipped tooth examined by a dentist like Dr. Chris Fagan in Enid, Oklahoma. After a basic assessment he will help you understand your treatment options.
If the damage to the tooth is indeed minor our dentist might be able to treat the tooth with a cosmetic bonding treatment. The process involves him cleaning the surface before applying a small amount of composite resin to the area, which can be shaded to match the surrounding tooth enamel.
Once it has been shaded and applied our dentist will use a special ultraviolet light to harden the composite resin and complete the treatment process.
If you live in the Enid, Oklahoma, region and you have a chipped tooth you should call 580-233-0043 to have it examined and treated at Brush Pediatric & Family Dentistry.