It can be scary to bite down on something hard and have your tooth break. Many people panic and have no idea what to do with themselves, but this isn’t helpful.

There are very simple and safe steps that you can take to rectify a chipped tooth.

What to Do When You Chip a Tooth

Some chips are worse than others. The first thing you need to do is check to see how much damage your tooth has sustained.

There will often be broken pieces of tooth. These must be collected and safely looked after. Ideally, you want to preserve these chipped tooth parts to show your dentist (which is the next stage).

To do this its usually best to place chipped pieces in a small container, or a pouch.

You should also ensure the remaining tooth is cleaned thoroughly. Any dirt or debris on your chipped tooth can cause additional pain and make the dentist’s job harder.

Therefore you should ensure to wash the chipped tooth with warm water, to remove any of this dirt. You can often find advice on how to clean your teeth appropriately online.

If the tooth is particularly bad, you should use a cold compress on the tooth. This should help to prevent swelling. Once you’ve done the above, you need to see a professional.

Schedule a Dental Appointment

You should call your dental practice and explain exactly what happened to your tooth. You should explain how much of your tooth is chipped, so they know what to expect when you arrive for your appointment.

If your tooth is looking particularly bad, such as with severe redness or visible yellow pulp, you need to stress to the dentist that you need an emergency appointment.

If you need a dentist in the Virginia area, for instance, you’d need to contact your woodbridge-va dental practice. How long you have to wait to get an appointment will depend on the dentist and the location.

Once you attend your appointment, your dentist will likely remove part of the tooth and replace it with a filling. On some occasions, this might need a root canal procedure.

If you’re concerned with what treatment you need, you should discuss this directly with your dentist. They will be able to explain exactly what treatment you need to fix your chipped tooth.

There are tips to follow to keep your teeth clean and safe after your appointment, especially during the current coronavirus quarantine.

How Long Until It’s Fixed?

It usually doesn’t take too long for a dentist to repair a chipped tooth. However, if the chipped tooth is particularly bad, it can take repeated visits to completely fix the tooth. That’s why it’s important to know what to do when you chip a tooth.

If you follow these simple steps on what to do when you chip a tooth, you’ll have the problem fixed in no time.

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