Will My Chipped Tooth Heal?

If you suffer an injury that chips your tooth, you might think it’s not a big deal. It’ll just heal on its own, right? After all, if cuts, bruises, and even broken bones can recover, why can’t teeth? However, this is a misleading assumption. Your chipped tooth in West Hartford won’t heal like other body parts; instead, it needs dental treatment. To learn more, here’s a summary of chipped teeth — their causes and symptoms, why they don’t heal, and why to see your dentist for them.

Chipped Teeth Causes & Symptoms

As it turns out, teeth can chip for various reasons. Plus, a chip’s symptoms depend on what caused it. Notable causes for teeth chipping are

• Bruxism (i.e., teeth grinding)
• Physical exercise
• A trip or fall
• Contact sports
• An auto accident

Besides changes in appearance and function, a chipped tooth may have minor-to-moderate discomfort, swelling, and sensitivity. While you can treat mild pain with over-the-counter medicine, you’ll need prompt care if symptoms are severe.

Chipped Teeth Can’t Heal

Unlike other body parts, teeth can’t heal from significant damage. That includes cracks, fractures, and, yes, chipping.

You see, skin, bones, and organs can heal themselves thanks to having blood vessels. Tooth enamel, though, doesn’t have those. Only a tooth’s innermost part or pulp has a blood supply. As a result,  enamel can only recover enough to combat things like cavities or infections. It can’t make something as big as a chip disappear.

Contact Your Dentist

Since chipped teeth don’t heal themselves, nearly all of them require dental treatment. However, their urgency will depend on the severity and cause of the chip. If it’s minor, the patient can take care of the tooth at home while they wait for a convenient time to see the dentist. On the other hand, severe chips tend to need emergency dental care.

If you can get your tooth treated quickly enough, you may only need dental bonding, a veneer, or a dental crown. If it’s more serious, root canal therapy followed by a dental crown may be necessary. Sometimes, severe chips that can’t be treated require tooth extraction.

A chipped tooth in West Hartford may not heal naturally, but that doesn’t mean it can’t get better. Please talk with your local dentist about ways to restore your tooth and smile to their former glory!

About the Author

Dr. Ukti Phadnis is a dentist based in West Hartford, CT, having earned her DDM from the UConn School of Dental Medicine. She always strives to give patients the best and most comfortable dental care. As such, her services span preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, as well as emergency dental services. Dr. Phadnis currently practices at West Hartford Dental Group and can be reached at her website or by phone at (860)-400-3007.