A chipped tooth, even if it doesn’t cause immediate pain, can expose sensitive inner layers of your tooth to bacteria and further damage. If you’ve chipped a tooth, here’s what you should do right away:
- Contact Our Office Immediately: Call Smiles By Eddie in Woodland Hills as soon as possible. Explain what happened. We prioritize dental emergencies and will strive to see you quickly.
- Rinse Your Mouth: Gently rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area and remove any small tooth fragments.
- Apply Pressure (if bleeding): If there’s any bleeding, apply gentle pressure with a clean piece of gauze.
- Manage Pain & Swelling: If you experience pain or swelling, apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek near the affected area. Over-the-counter pain relievers (like ibuprofen) can help manage discomfort.
- Protect Any Sharp Edges: If the chipped tooth has a sharp or jagged edge that is irritating your tongue or cheek, you can temporarily cover it with a small piece of dental wax (available at pharmacies) or even a sugar-free chewing gum.
- Avoid Chewing on the Affected Side: Do your best to avoid biting down on the chipped tooth until you can see me.
Remember: Even small chips can lead to bigger problems if ignored. Prompt professional attention is key.
Hello there, I’m Dr. Edmond Ahdoot, and at Smiles By Eddie, I understand that accidents happen, and a chipped tooth can be both alarming and uncomfortable. Whether it’s a minor chip or a more significant fracture, a damaged tooth needs prompt attention to prevent further damage, alleviate pain, and restore your smile’s integrity.
 If you’re experiencing a chipped tooth emergency in Woodland Hills, my team and I are here to provide swift, gentle, and effective repair, getting you out of discomfort and back to smiling confidently. We prioritize urgent dental care for our patients in Calabasas, Tarzana, West Hills, and throughout the San Fernando Valley
Chipped tooth repair involves restoring the damaged part of your tooth to its original shape, function, and appearance. The specific type of repair depends on the extent of the chip, the location of the tooth, and whether the inner pulp of the tooth has been affected. My goal is always to use the most conservative and effective method to get you out of pain and restore your smile quickly. For urgent chipped tooth repair in Woodland Hills, you can count on our expertise.
Common methods for chipped tooth repair include:
- Dental Bonding: For minor chips, dental bonding is an excellent, quick solution. I’ll use a tooth-colored composite resin material that is precisely matched to your tooth shade. This resin is applied directly to the chipped area, meticulously sculpted to restore the tooth’s natural shape, and then hardened with a special light. It’s then polished for a seamless, natural finish. This is often completed in a single visit.
- Dental Crown: If the chip is significant, involving a large portion of the tooth, or if the tooth is severely fractured, a dental crown (a “cap” that covers the entire tooth) may be necessary. A crown provides strength, protection, and a natural aesthetic. This typically involves two visits.
- Veneer: For chips on front teeth that affect the cosmetic appearance, a custom-made porcelain veneer might be an option. This is a thin shell of porcelain bonded to the front surface of the tooth.
- Root Canal Therapy (if needed): In rare cases, a severe chip or fracture might expose the tooth’s pulp (nerve), leading to infection. If this occurs, a root canal will be necessary before the tooth can be restored with a filling or crown
While a chipped tooth might seem like just a cosmetic issue, it can quickly escalate into more serious problems if not addressed promptly. That’s why seeking emergency dental care in Woodland Hills is so important.
Acting quickly for a chipped tooth can help:
- Prevent Further Damage: A chipped tooth is weaker and more susceptible to further fracturing or cracking, especially when chewing.
- Alleviate Pain and Sensitivity: Exposed dentin or pulp can lead to sharp pain and sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet stimuli. Repair seals these areas.
- Prevent Infection: A chip can create an opening for bacteria to enter the inner pulp of the tooth, leading to infection, abscess, and potentially a need for root canal therapy or extraction.
- Protect Soft Tissues: Sharp edges of a chipped tooth can cut or irritate your tongue, cheek, or lips.
- Maintain Your Bite: If a large chip affects your bite, it can put undue stress on other teeth or cause jaw discomfort.
- Restore Aesthetics: Quickly repairing a chipped tooth restores the beauty of your smile, allowing you to speak and smile confidently without embarrassment.
DR. EDMOND
AHDOOT
When a chipped tooth demands immediate attention, you want a dentist who is responsive, skilled, and caring. Here’s why patients in Woodland Hills, CA, and the wider San Fernando Valley, trust Smiles By Eddie for their emergency chipped tooth repair:
- Prompt Emergency Response: We understand that dental emergencies are stressful. We prioritize getting you seen quickly to address your pain and prevent further complications. Call us immediately!
- Expert Diagnosis & Conservative Treatment: I meticulously assess the damage to recommend the most appropriate and conservative repair method, preserving as much of your natural tooth structure as possible.
- Artistic & Natural Results: I take pride in my ability to restore chipped teeth with a natural, aesthetically pleasing result. Whether it’s bonding or a crown, your repaired tooth will blend seamlessly with your smile.
- Gentle & Comfortable Care: Your comfort is paramount, especially during an emergency. We utilize gentle techniques and effective pain management to ensure your experience is as stress-free as possible.
- Comprehensive Solutions: From simple bonding to complex crowns or even root canals if needed, I offer a full range of restorative options to effectively address any level of tooth chipping or fracture.
- State-of-the-Art Office: Our Woodland Hills dental office is equipped with modern technology to facilitate accurate diagnosis and efficient, high-quality repairs.
- Trusted Local Emergency Dentist: We are conveniently located and a reliable resource for emergency dental care in Woodland Hills, ready to help you when you need it most.
When you arrive at our Woodland Hills dental office with a chipped tooth, my priority is to assess the damage, alleviate any pain, and provide the most effective and efficient repair.
- Emergency Examination & Assessment: Upon arrival, we’ll quickly assess the extent of the chip. I’ll examine the tooth, check for nerve exposure, and may take a quick X-ray to evaluate the root and surrounding bone structure.
- Pain Management: If you’re in pain, my first step is to make you comfortable. I will administer local anesthesia to numb the area, ensuring a pain-free repair process.
- Cleaning & Preparation: The tooth surface will be gently cleaned to ensure proper bonding or restoration.
- Repair Procedure (Varies by Severity):
- For minor chips (most common): I will skillfully apply tooth-colored composite resin, meticulously sculpting it to match your tooth’s original shape. A special light will then harden the resin, and I’ll polish it for a natural, seamless finish. This is usually done in one visit.
- For larger chips/fractures: If a crown, veneer, or other treatment is needed, I will prepare the tooth and take impressions. A temporary restoration will be placed, and a follow-up appointment will be scheduled for the placement of your custom-made permanent restoration. If the nerve is involved, root canal therapy will be performed first.
- Final Checks & Instructions: Once the repair is complete, I’ll check your bite and ensure comfort. My team will provide you with specific aftercare instructions to help you maintain your newly repaired tooth.
FAQ
We prioritize dental emergencies. Call our Woodland Hills office immediately, and we will do our utmost to schedule you for the earliest possible appointment, often on the same day.
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Not always. A small chip might not cause pain if it only affects the outer enamel. However, if the chip exposes the underlying dentin or pulp (nerve), you will likely experience sensitivity or sharp pain. Even without pain, it’s essential to get it checked.
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Yes! My goal is always to make your repaired tooth blend seamlessly with your natural smile. With tooth-colored bonding material or custom-made crowns/veneers, the repair should be virtually undetectable.
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For minor chips, dental bonding can often be completed in a single, relatively short appointment (e.g., 30-60 minutes). More extensive repairs like crowns will require two visits.
Collect any tooth fragments you can find and bring them with you to our office. Follow the immediate steps mentioned above (rinse, cold compress, contact us immediately).
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The cost varies significantly depending on the extent of the chip and the type of repair needed (bonding, crown, veneer, etc.). We will discuss all costs and your insurance coverage during your visit.
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After dental bonding, you can usually eat normally once the anesthesia wears off. However, it’s wise to avoid very hard or sticky foods on the repaired tooth. If you received a temporary crown, you’ll need to be careful with it until your permanent crown is placed
Many dental insurance plans provide some coverage for chipped tooth repair, especially if it’s considered a restorative procedure (like a filling or crown). My team will help you understand your specific benefits.
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Even very small chips should be evaluated. They can have sharp edges that irritate your mouth or be an entry point for bacteria, leading to decay over time. It’s always best to have it checked to prevent future, more significant problems.
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