What Should I Do If I Chip My Tooth Miami, FL
There are many reasons why a chipped tooth can occur, from an accident to merely chewing. If a chipped tooth occurs, professional dental care is necessary to receive proper evaluation and treatment. It is essential to seek prompt treatment to prevent the problem from worsening.
If you have a chipped tooth, do not hesitate to seek treatment. Feel Good Dentistry in Miami and the surrounding area is here to help. Call us today at (305) 230-4484 to schedule an appointment or learn more about our services.
Chipped Teeth Are Common
A chipped tooth is a common dental injury. According to the American Association of Endodontists, chipped teeth account for a majority of dental injuries. Although a chipped tooth can induce panic and anxiety, it is typically a mild problem that we can fix through various methods.
People should remain calm so they can take the proper steps to fix this problem. The best thing for patients to do after chipping a tooth is to focus on their breath and slow it down. While not all chipped teeth will require treatment, patients should visit our dentist to ensure that they receive the necessary treatment to restore and protect their teeth.
“According to the American Association of Endodontists, chipped teeth account for a majority of dental injuries.”
What to Do Immediately After Chipping a Tooth
After chipping a tooth, the most important thing to do is first call a dentist. If the person is experiencing pain or bleeding after chipping a tooth, it is particularly paramount to contact the dentist immediately. Doing so can help avoid complications such as an infection, nerve damage, or increased pain.
After contacting the dentist, you should try to locate any tooth fragments. If a fragment is still in the mouth or it has fallen out, place it in a glass of cold milk. While this practice may seem strange, preserving the tooth fragment in milk can help salvage the tooth, making it possible for your dentist to reattach the fragment later. If the tooth fragment was accidentally swallowed, do not try to retrieve it.
If there is any bleeding associated with the chipped tooth, use a warm water mouth rinse to gently clean and soothe the area. Place gauze over the bleeding area and apply pressure to encourage clot formation. For pain associated with a chipped tooth, we advise taking an over-the-counter analgesic medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, provided that the patient can tolerate pain medications.
“If there is any bleeding associated with the chipped tooth, use a warm water mouth rinse to gently clean and soothe the area.”
What to Do When Teens Chip a Tooth
It can be especially nerve-wracking when a teen chips a tooth, particularly if it causes them a great deal of anxiety or discomfort. The most important thing that a parent can do when a teen chips a tooth is to remain calm. This may mean not addressing the chipped tooth for several minutes until they have calmed down. After getting a clearer visualization of the chip, try to locate the fragment and make sure it does not pose a risk to the airway. According to the Cleveland Clinic, one may be able to preserve the chipped piece of tooth in cold milk or a specific salt solution.
For teens, it is important to follow the same steps that are advised when an adult chips a tooth. Control any pain or bleeding first, and then contact their dentist immediately. Dentists are able to repair chipped teeth in children in much the same way that they repair teeth in adults, so it is important to get follow-up care as soon as possible.
“The most important thing that a parent can do when a teen chips a tooth is to remain calm.”
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Repairing a Chipped Tooth
There are various methods to repair a chipped tooth, depending on the state of the patient's tooth and the type of injury. In some cases, our dentist can reattach the broken piece of a tooth. If the damage is minimal, our dentist may only need to use cosmetic contouring to polish the tooth's surface or smooth a jagged edge. Other options include veneers to cover a chip or dental bonding to fill in missing tooth structure.
Chips that go below the tooth's surface may require more extensive repair, such as a root canal or extraction. A root canal is necessary when the damage enters the pulp and infects it. Extraction is the last resort when a root canal is not enough to save a tooth. Patients should contact us to find out what repair options are available.
“There are various methods to repair a chipped tooth, depending on the state of the patient’s tooth and the type of injury.”
Questions Answered on This Page
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Maintaining a Treated Chipped Tooth
After treatment for a chipped tooth, patients must maintain a regular oral care routine. This maintenance includes brushing twice a day and flossing at least once. Patients should also follow all after-care instructions to take care of the repaired tooth and protect it from further damage.
Other maintenance tips include not biting down on the treated tooth and refining from chewing on hard foods and objects. Following the repair, patients should also attend all follow-up appointments and schedule regular dental check-ups. These appointments will allow our dentist to check the repair and protect patients' overall oral health to prevent a chip from happening again.
“After treatment for a chipped tooth, patients must maintain a regular oral care routine.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How common are chipped teeth?
A. It is very common to experience a chipped tooth. In fact, the American Association of Endodontists reports that the most common type of dental injury is a chipped tooth. Luckily there are many things you can do to avoid a chipped tooth, such as making sure you do not use your teeth to open non-food items and wearing a mouth guard during contact sports.
Q. How do chipped teeth most commonly occur?
A. The most common way teeth chip is through injury. However, they can occur from other situations besides accidents and are often a result of weakened tooth enamel. Biting down on hard foods or objects can chip a tooth easily when the teeth are not as strong as they once were. We recommend using a mouthguard when playing sports and while sleeping to avoid injury or chipping a tooth from grinding or clenching.
Q. Why does my chipped tooth hurt?
A. If your chipped tooth hurts, it may be because the injury extends past the surface of your tooth. If the chip continues through the enamel and dentin layers of your tooth and exposes the inner part of the tooth known as the tooth pulp, you can experience pain. Make sure to follow up with your dentist as soon as you can.
Q. What should I do with the piece of the tooth that chipped off?
A. If you locate the chipped piece of tooth, you should save it to bring to your dental appointment. Try to keep the tooth chip moist by transporting it in cold milk. It may be possible for your dentist to reattach the chipped piece, but this is not always possible.
Q. What if I chip a tooth and it falls out?
A. If your chipped tooth becomes loose and falls out, this constitutes a dental emergency. You should contact your dentist as soon as possible so that you have the highest likelihood of preserving the integrity of the tooth. If possible, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that you try to keep the tooth moist by replacing it in your mouth until you receive further instructions from your dentist.
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Call Us Today
If you have a chipped tooth, do not panic. Our team at Feel Good Dentistry can help restore a chipped tooth's function and appearance. Call us today at 305-230-4484 to learn more about our services or schedule an appointment.
Helpful Related Links
- American Dental Association (ADA). Glossary of Dental Clinical Terms. 2025
- American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry® (AACD). Home Page. 2025
- WebMD. WebMD’s Oral Care Guide. 2025
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