Injuries are the main reason for a chipped tooth, and it can even happen when biting any hard food item or other objects.  Excessive pressure on teeth and sudden shock for whatsoever reason can make your tooth crack, break, or chip which is a painful experience. 

A typical example is when you are biting a piece of hard candy or crunching ice. You notice something unusually hard in your mouth which neither dissolves nor melts. When you bring out the small piece from your mouth and look at it closely, you will discover that it is a small part of your tooth to your utter dismay. You might have your tooth broken or chipped if you receive a blow on your face or fall with your face hitting the ground or some other object. 

Soon after discovering the damage, ensure proper care of the broken tooth by reducing the pain. Chipped teeth are pretty standard among people of all ages, including children, as it can happen from so many types of incidents that are often unavoidable and, in most cases, will take you by surprise. However, poor nutrition is also an avoidable cause. You take your child to an Omaha pediatric dentist who can advise the remedial measures by detecting the problem early. 

When you discover that you have a chipped tooth, the situation will tell you whether you need to rush to an emergency dentist near you.  Different people react to chipped teeth differently based on what they experience in terms of discomfort and pain. If the affected tooth is only slightly chipped and minimal or no pain, you can take some time to decide whether you need medical assistance. But if it is pretty painful and you cannot bear the pain for long, it becomes a medical emergency to which you must respond appropriately.   

A chipped tooth can become a cause of concern later, and it is better to seek the advice of a dentist who can understand the damage and the consequences correctly and advice remedial measures. The extent of damage and how serious it is will decide the kind of dental support you need. Prompt medical attention is necessary if the broken tooth's chunk is large enough to expose the nerves that cause immense pain.  When the tooth chips away, it damages the tooth enamel, which leads to tooth sensitivity and pain. Leaving broken teeth untreated poses a lot of risk for infection if the nerves remain exposed, which becomes vulnerable to bacterial infections. 

If you do not treat the damaged tooth, you are inviting various problems because the most evident problem is tooth sensitivity that happens due to the damage to the tooth enamel due to the impact. The shock of injury can be quite painful, and the tooth pain might even become unbearable, which will need immediate medical attention. The infection resulting from the injury can even cause an abscess, which could complicate matters. Therefore, neglecting chipped or broken teeth because the pain and discomfort seem bearable can lead to bigger problems. Seeking emergency dental care is always better than feeling sorry later as you may have to live with an imperfect smile.

When a tooth is broken, the dentist considers the extent of the injury and the chip size to decide the kind of treatment that would be necessary. 

Small chips – Chipped tooth is often an aesthetic dental problem if the chip is too small and does not affect the tooth functionality or cause any discomfort. Only a dentist can examine the chipped tooth to understand if the enamel is intact, which shows that the damage is superficial and did not affect the sensitive layers beneath the enamel. For tiny chips, the dentist might use a polishing instrument to remove all imperfections and smooth the rough edges. The dentist might use the bonding method that consists of applying materials to the tooth surface to reconstruct its structure and appearance or might use porcelain veneers to cover the damage and retain the looks.

Medium chips- Medium chips need quick dental treatment because it damages the layers under the enamel and even the slightest exposure of the pulp can cause serious infections. The treatment will help prevent infection and restore the tooth by attaching the broken chip you perhaps collected. If done within 24 hours, the procedure can re-attach the broken part to the tooth, or else it would require veneers and crowns to reconstruct the tooth.

Large chips – These are most problematic to deal with as the damage is too much visible. Moreover, the chances of infections are much high. Reporting to a dentist immediately after the incident is the best response to the situation.

For chipped teeth, do not take any chances but consult a dentist immediately.