A chipped tooth isn’t just a minor esthetic issue, but a genuine dental emergency. Repairing damage, even if said damage appears minor, can help prevent serious complications. With cosmetic dentistry, we may be able to repair minor damage in Greenville, TX, in just one visit. What should you do if you chip a tooth, and how do we repair damaged smiles?

The Risks Associated with Damaged Smiles

Our teeth are coated in tooth enamel, a very strong material that safeguards the inner layers of dentin and the pulp from harmful bacteria. However, when we chip or fracture a tooth, this enables bacteria to reach the dentin. A cavity then forms, which will continue to grow and spread throughout the tooth unless treated. Eventually, the decay reaches the inner pulp, your tooth’s nerve center, and allows an infection to form that threatens the stability of your smile. Instead of allowing your smile to develop painful complications, talk to us about emergency treatment.

Responding to Your Chipped Teeth

First, see if you can find and gather up any pieces of your tooth, then bring them with you to the office. However, if you can’t, we can still repair your smile. While in route to our office, you may use a cold compress against the side of your face to stop swelling, and a piece of cloth or gauze to control bleeding. A pain reliever can also help ease discomfort before we see you. Remember, even minor chips could put your smile at risk and a fracture, which is typically invisible to the naked eye, could as well. For that reason, be sure to see us if you sustain an injury but no damage is apparent.

One-Visit Repair

For most cases, we repair a chipped tooth using dental bonding. We clean the tooth and etch the surface before applying a composite resin. A metal-free mixture of glass and plastic compounds, this material can be shaded to match your tooth. After applying the bonding material in several layers, we sculpt the tooth as it cures under a light. Finally, we polish the tooth for a more ethically-pleasing appearance. In one visit, we offer a natural looking repair. If you have more substantial damage, then we may discuss repairs using crowns or veneers, which also provide a natural looking appearance. If you have any questions about responding to common dental emergencies, then please give our team a call.

Do You Need Emergency Dental Care?

If you damage or even knock-out a tooth, we can help. To find out more about our approach to emergency dentistry, schedule a consultation with Smith Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX call us at 903-455-5750. We proudly serve patients from Hunt County, Greenville, Royce City, Sulphur Springs, and all surrounding communities.