Causes of Chipped Teeth By Patrick Casey on August 28, 2015

Our teeth may be strong, but taking a fall or biting a hard candy can lead to chipped teeth. If left untreated, a chipped tooth can lead to further dental damage, including tooth decay. Restorative dentistry treatments can repair the damage of chipped teeth and improve the appearance of your smile. Learn about the causes of chipped teeth from Montreal dentists Charles and Patrick Casey.

The Causes of Chipped Teeth

The teeth may become chipped for a number of reasons, some of which are rather surprising. For instance, did you know temperature fluctuations in the foods we eat and drink can lead to chipping? This is because eating hot food and then washing it down with ice-cold water can cause small fractures to develop in our teeth. These fracture weaken the teeth, leaving them vulnerable to chipping. Other causes of chipped teeth include:

Chewing on metal, plastic, or other hard items: Chewing on hard items like metal or plastic pen caps, ice, or even our fingernails, can lead to dental chipping.
Hard foods: Eating overly hard foods, like corn chips, corn nuts, hard candies, and ice, can put a lot of force on the teeth and may lead to chipping.
Facial injury: Facial injuries, whether from an accident, falling, or playing sports, can all lead to chipped teeth.
Teeth grinding: Chronic teeth grinding subjects the teeth to extreme amounts of friction and pressure, both of which can lead to chipped teeth.

Treatments to Repair the Damage of Chipped Teeth

Chipped teeth can increase the risk of tooth decay because it creates a pathway for bacteria to reach the inner layers of the teeth. This makes treating chipped teeth not only important for restoring the smile's appearance but also for protecting the teeth from further damage. Fortunately, there are a number of treatments that can repair the damage of chipped teeth, such as:

Dental bonding: Dental bonding is a tooth-colored restorative treatment in which a putty-like resin is used to reshape and repair damaged teeth. Once the resin is crafted to the desired shape, a special light is applied to harden the resin and complete treatment.
Porcelain veneers: Porcelain veneers are tooth-shaped restorations designed to mask damage to the front facing teeth. Each veneer is custom-made to the desired shape, size, and color for a perfect blend with the surrounding teeth.
Dental crowns: Dental crowns may be used in cases of severe chipping or if major dental damage has resulted due to previously untreated chipping. Dental crowns are tooth-shaped restorations that completely encase a damaged tooth to restore both appearance and dental function.

Seek Treatment for Chipped Teeth

If you suffer from one or more chipped teeth, it's important to seek treatment to prevent further damage and improve the aesthetics of your smile. To discuss your personalized treatment plan, we welcome you to schedule a consultation with Drs. Casey today. Our dentists can examine your tooth and determine which treatment option is most appropriate in your case.