I woke up this morning and as I was laying in bed, the bottom of my front tooth felt rough and like the enamel was flaking off. I looked in the mirror and a little piece of it was chipped off. How could this have happened as I don't remember hitting my mouth or anything. Is it important to have this fixed or anything? I don't have dental insurance, and the appearance doesn't bother me as much as the worry that it could cause something more serious.
2006-11-17 01:30:04 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Dental
Here is what happened.
You had stress cracks in your teeth (or that particular tooth). When you bite on something hard - even things like raw carrots or an apple, as an example - could cause the stress crack to break away the enamel. Perhaps you were eating peanuts or someother hard items. It does not take too much to cause a break off if it is already cracked.
Some people get these cracks. This is not normal, however nothing to be alarmed about either. You SHOULD consult a dentist and have this one fixed. They have a plastic cure with ultraviolet that is placed on this crack (or cracks) and prevent it (them) from causing further damage.
What will happen if you do not fix this? The bacteria will find room in the broken tooth and it will cause further serious damage like puss, bleeding etc.. The break is a warning that you have to attend to it right away.
Do not put it off any longer for the sake of better oral hygiene. In life, some unexpected expenses like this do occur.
2006-11-17 01:45:01 · answer #1 · answered by Nightrider 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm a dental hygienist and it completely depends on the size of the chip. If it just a small chip they will file it down and place a composite (white) filling. If it is quite extensive they can bond the tooth back to itself (if you kept the part that fell off) or they can make a mold to bond. Because your front teeth require a lot of tensile force when you bight into things, it might need a crown. It all depends on the size of the chip. See your dentist for the best options for you. In the mean time, if it is jagged or rough and bothering you, you can take a nail file and lightly file down the jagged part just so it doesn't snag anymore. Don't try to completely file it down yourself, only enough to take the edge off.
2016-03-19 09:56:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Exactly what happened to me...however, I know why it happened... I grind my teeth when sleeping. You might be doing the same without realising it. Go to your dentist as soon as possible. If you have the same problem I have, it might be causing you headhaches and neck pain as well...and you will end up consuming the enamel of most of your teeth. The remedy is easy: a "bite" - a cover for your teeth, similar to that of some sportsmen, made of hard or soft plastic that you will have to wear at night. Not very sexy, but it works!
2006-11-17 01:40:45 · answer #3 · answered by pierluisa 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's possible you grind your teeth, when you sleep. This could cause a chipped tooth.
Depending on how badly it's chipped, it could cause decay later.
2006-11-17 01:39:30 · answer #4 · answered by rustybones 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could be grinding or clenching your teeth at night. One time I shattered a filling by clenching.
2006-11-17 01:38:22 · answer #5 · answered by Big Biscuit 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
maybe, you had it when you were asleep. at times, some people
tend to close their jaws tight during sleep which put on force on the teeth. it can be repaired by your dentist to make it look normal again.
2006-11-17 01:41:33 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
something like this happened to me and it freaked me out! i never found out why this happened but i blame chewy sweets which i was eating earlier that day-which i haven't touched since.
2006-11-17 01:36:22 · answer #7 · answered by curiosity 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋