You’re eating popcorn. You bite down on an unpopped kernel. Crunch. But that crunch didn’t sound like popcorn. You look in the mirror, and there it is, a chip in your front tooth. Or maybe you took a spill playing soccer, or you clinked your glass a little too hard against your teeth. However it happened, you’re staring at a chipped tooth and thinking, “Now what?”
First, take a breath. Chipped teeth happen more often than you’d think. We see them all the time in our Greeley office. And most of the time, they’re fixable, often in a single visit. Here’s exactly what to do.
Step 1: Stay Calm and Assess
Check for pain, bleeding, or sharp edges. If you’re bleeding, apply gentle pressure with a clean piece of gauze or a wet tea bag for about 10 minutes. If it hurts, over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help until you get to us.
If the chip is tiny and doesn’t hurt at all, you don’t need to rush to the emergency room. But you do need to call us. Even small chips can leave rough edges that irritate your tongue or cheek, and they can get worse over time.
Step 2: Save Any Pieces
If you can find the piece that broke off, save it. Put it in a small container with milk, saliva (just spit in a cup), or saline solution. Water’s okay in a pinch, but milk’s better because it keeps the cells alive.
Don’t wrap the piece in a tissue or paper towel; that dries it out and makes it harder for us to bond it back on, if that’s an option.
Step 3: Protect Your Mouth
If the chip left a sharp edge, cover it with a piece of sugar-free gum or dental wax (you can find it at most drugstores). That’ll keep it from cutting your tongue or cheek until we can smooth it out.
Stick to soft foods for now. Nothing crunchy, chewy, or sticky. And definitely chew on the other side of your mouth.
Step 4: Call Us Right Away
Seriously. Don’t wait. Chips don’t get better on their own, and the longer you wait, the more likely that chip grows into a fracture or lets bacteria sneak in.
Call us at 970-205-9614 and tell the front desk you’ve chipped a tooth. We’ll get you in as soon as possible. Most chips can be taken care of the same day.
How We’ll Fix It
What we do depends on the size and location of the chip.
- Small chips on front teeth often get repaired with composite bonding. That’s where we use tooth-colored resin to fill in the chip, shape it to look natural, and harden it with a special light. It takes about 30 minutes.
- Medium chips that expose the layer underneath (dentin) might need a small filling or bonding that covers more surface area. We’ll numb the area if we need to, but for shallow chips, we often don’t have to.
- Large chips that expose the nerve or go deep into the tooth might need a root canal and a crown. That’s the worst-case scenario, and it’s actually pretty rare for simple chips. Most people get off with bonding or a filling.
- And if the chip was caused by grinding or clenching? We’ll talk about a custom nightguard to protect your other teeth from the same fate.
Don’t Ignore It
We get it. Life’s busy. A tiny chip doesn’t seem like a big deal. But that tiny chip is a weak spot. Over time, biting and chewing can make it worse. Then you’re looking at a bigger repair instead of a simple one.
So call us. We’ll get you fixed up, polished, and back to your day before you know it. No judgment. Just help.