Your Dentist to the Rescue

Chipped teeth are rough. They’re abrasive to the touch and your sensitive tongue. Not to mention the slight bruise to your ego every time you look in the mirror. Whether you’re rough-housing, kick-boxing or just doing every day activities -- when you chip a tooth, the most important thing you can do is contact your dentist. You’ll need immediate attention and an evaluation of the extent of the damage.

What Happens Next?

There are several options for correcting a chipped tooth:

- Enamel shaping or a simple filling for very minor chips
- Bonding or veneers for larger chips
- Onlays for chips on a molar tooth

Seeing your dentist is essential because only he or she can truly evaluate the extent of damage to your chipped tooth. If a chip is deep enough, there may be more damage than meets the eye. If the chip affects the center of your tooth (pulp) where blood vessels and nerve endings live — you can be in for some real trouble.

Not only will your dentist ease your mind, but he or she will fix that chipped tooth and send you back on your way to that million-dollar smile you know and love. If you chip a tooth and are ever unsure of what you should do, call your dental office -- that’s what they’re there for.

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