Are Chipped Teeth More Susceptible to Cavities?
By Robert Rutner | Published on December 7, 2010 | 0 Comments
Chipped teeth are definitely more susceptible to cavities than non-chipped teeth, according to Rutner Dental‘s Dr. Robert Rutner. A well-known dentist in Mountain View, CA, Dr. Rutner explains that having an untreated chipped tooth can make a person extremely likely to experience tooth decay or cavities.
Having a chipped tooth means that the enamel on a person’s tooth has cracked, explains Dr. Rutner. In some cases, a chip in a tooth may even create a deep crevice that leads into the interiors of the mouth. These crevices can be extremely difficult to reach with a toothbrush and clean out each day, thereby allowing an inordinate amount of bacteria to grow inside.
Whenever a person has a situation where bacteria is allowed to build up in his mouth – and especially in cases where the bacteria cannot be easily cleaned out with the basic oral hygiene tools that most people have at home – oral decay can progress and lead to cavities. Thus, medical intervention by a dentist is necessary. In Mountain View, CA, Dr. Rutner has seen this scenario play out many times.
Of course, the speed at which a patient needs to get in to see his dentist after chipping a tooth will vary depending on a number of important factors. First and foremost, Dr. Rutner says that anyone who is in pain needs to come in to see the dentist right away. Aside from the initial shock and pain associated with the actual chipping of the tooth, there can be lingering side effects that cause discomfort as well. For example, chipped teeth can have sharp corners that can hurt when they come into contact with a patient’s tongue or cheeks. Dr. Rutner says that is the type of emergency issue that needs to be dealt with right away.
When pain is not an issue, then the speed at which a patient gets into his dentist’s chair is somewhat less important. Dr. Rutner says that if a patient chips a tooth on a Friday night but his mouth is not hurting, then he can probably wait until Monday morning to see his dentist and get the tooth repaired.
Dr. Rutner makes a point of explaining, however, that emergency dentistry means different things to different people. While one person might be okay with waiting a few days to get a chipped tooth repaired, another person might consider a chipped tooth to be an emergency issue that needs to be fixed right away. At Rutner Dental in Mountain View, CA, Dr. Rutner is an emergency dentist who will see patients as quickly as possible in these types of situations.
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.