As a Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist I have made my own list of the top 3 reasons for chipped or cracked teeth. I get to see a lot of chipped teeth and I get to hear a lot of stories about how the chip happened. Most of the time the damage to the tooth can be avoided.
- Popcorn causes a lot of damage. Biting into a popcorn kernel is like chewing on a rock – leave the unpopped kernels in the bottom of the bag. Not only can popcorn chip a tooth, it can cause serious cracks or even break a tooth.
- Chewing ice is bad for teeth. Ice is hard, cold and brittle which is a bad combination when it comes into contact with dental enamel which is also hard. If you have old silver fillings in your mouth the combination of cold and hard meeting a tooth that is structurally weak can cause a painful break.
- Oral piercings destroy teeth. Lip piercings and bad but tongue piercings are the worst. Every time you talk the barbell-like tongue stud hits the teeth. A study published in the American Journal of Dentistry showed that 14% to 41% of people with oral piercings suffered from tooth fractures and wear. The metal jewelry harbors bacteria and can lead to serious infection and tooth loss. Get something else pierced – but not your lip or tongue!
The good news is that cosmetic dentists have several ways to repair the chips, cracks and breaks in our teeth. Very tiny chips in the edge of a tooth may just need to be smoothed off and your smile won’t look any different to the average eye.
Depending upon the size of the chip and which tooth is involved we may be able to use dental bonding to restore the tooth. Dental bonding is easily done is one visit and can be used to repair chips, close spaces and reshape malformed or stained teeth.
Porcelain veneers can be used to correct more serious cosmetic damage to a tooth. If a tooth has been severely broken or cracked a dental crown may be needed to restore the tooth to full strength and use.
Your teeth can last a lifetime with proper care. The most common cause of tooth loss is not damage but gum disease. Remember to brush, floss and visit your hygienists regularly – avoid our top 3 list of damaging behaviors and never, ever use your teeth as a tool!
To repair your chipped tooth please contact Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist Dr. David Frey at 310-276-4537 to schedule your appointment.
