If you have a chipped tooth, with or without braces, you need to have a dentist take care of it. However, an orthodontist can help minimize the likelihood of your teeth becoming even more chipped and reduce the chance of teeth chipping or breaking due to a bad bite. When you visit an orthodontic office for treatment, the orthodontist will evaluate the condition of your teeth and suggest the right treatment. If the bracket is broken or the cable is separated from the bracket, it's important to see your orthodontist right away.
Broken wire from braces can pierce the gums inside the mouth and cause bleeding and severe pain. A chipped tooth is only a dental emergency if the chip is large enough to displace a filling or break a dental appliance. Dental emergencies include toothaches (especially severe), severely chipped teeth, a chipped filling, a broken crown or implant, a fractured tooth, a fallen tooth, or a broken tooth. A cracked, chipped, fallen, or broken tooth can quickly cause dental infections or total tooth loss in the affected area. However, when the chip cannot be seen (because it was a filling) and there is sensitivity, it is because there is an exposed dental nerve or because there are cavities under the filling. An orthodontist is a dental specialist who can diagnose, prevent and treat problems that affect tooth alignment.
A chipped tooth, depending on its size, can displace a filling and expose a dental nerve, in addition to creating the possibility of tooth decay. Patients can expect to pay a few hundred dollars for a small chip that requires a dental bond or a few thousand for a serious chip that needs a root canal and a crown. At our office for orthodontic treatment in Portage, MI, Dr. Kwong will evaluate your teeth and provide you with the best treatment option for your situation. If you have problems with chipped teeth or any other dental issue, don't hesitate to contact us right away.
