Unfortunately, if you're wondering if chipped teeth grow back or if a chipped tooth can repair itself, the answer is no. Sadly, teeth aren't a form of living tissue so it can't naturally regenerate, however, there are plenty of dental treatments and products available to remedy the issue.
When a patient has a chipped tooth, it means that a small portion of their tooth is no longer there. Chipped teeth are one of the more common types of dental problems that general dentists deal with. However, chipped teeth do not grow back on any portion of a tooth and instead need to be repaired by a general dentist.
Does it hurt? You may not feel any pain when you first damage a tooth but this should not stop you from booking a visit with your dentist immediately. If you delay or even skip that appointment, the broken or chipped tooth may end up infected, causing irreversible damage.
We get this question a lot as kids lose their baby teeth by 12-14 years of age and grow a whole new set of teeth, but a chipped tooth will not grow back because tooth enamel does not regenerate.
An infection can occur if the break is severe enough to expose the tooth's pulp. The pulp is the portion of the tooth containing blood vessels and nerves. Bacteria that moves into the mouth has the potential to move to the pulp and cause an infection. It is possible for pulp tissue to die as a result of the chip.
Depending on the chip, you can leave it until the next day, but it may indeed count as a dental emergency and require immediate attention.
If you have a broken or chipped tooth, you should always see a dentist immediately to fix a chipped tooth. In the meantime, there are some steps you can take to minimize the pain and lower the chances of further injury to the tooth until you can see a dentist.
It's better to treat the chip when it's just a chip, rather than leave the problem to get worse. There are some instances in which even the smallest of chips should be repaired. If a chip is tiny but has rough edges, it should be repaired because it may cause cuts or abrasions on the cheeks or tongue.
Humans only get two sets of teeth in their lifetime: 20 primary (baby) teeth and 32 secondary (permanent) teeth. If you lose any of your secondary teeth, your teeth will not grow back a third time. Previous FAQWhat is the hardest tooth to extract?
Besides plaque acids, teeth can also be worn down by other acids in your diet, such as fruit juices, carbonated drinks and wine. Teeth can also be exposed to damaging acids from medical conditions such as acid reflux, heartburn and morning sickness during pregnancy.
At that point, our baby teeth are replaced by a set of 32 permanent teeth. As you may have guessed from the term, our adult teeth are permanent and do not regrow.
Dental Filling or Bonding
If you have chipped off just a small piece of tooth enamel, your dentist may repair the damage with a filling. If the repair is to a front tooth or can be seen when you smile, your dentist will likely use a procedure called bonding, which uses a tooth-colored composite resin.
Call your dentist.
You must see your dentist within 30 minutes of the injury if there's any chance of saving your tooth.
If the chip is small and does not affect the function or appearance of your tooth, no treatment may be necessary. However, if the chip is large or causes pain, your dentist may recommend getting dental bonding or a crown. The treatment is dependent on the case.
A chipped tooth may have a jagged, sharp surface or edge. If you ignore it, that side of your chipped tooth might cut your tongue or cheeks, causing unnecessary and completely avoidable pain. Another common cause of a cracked or chipped tooth is cavities. Cavities weaken the teeth, compromising their strength.
Small chips can also be sharp and cut your inner cheek. Additionally, small chips weaken the tooth and can cause the tooth to break further. As chips develop into bigger breaks, you may develop more problems. Your tooth can begin to hurt and can become sensitive to heat and cold.
A cracked tooth can get worse by getting more damaged or by becoming infected. Subsequently, it is important to take precautionary measures to protect the tooth and schedule a dental visit as soon as possible to get the restorative treatment that you need for your cracked tooth.
Ongoing poor oral hygiene is a common reason why a tooth chips for no apparent reason. Cavities and decay weaken enamel and undermine the integrity of tooth structure. You may not notice any changes in your teeth until you get a sudden chip. Reduce your risk of tooth chipping by brushing twice a day for two minutes.
Most Common Causes of Chipped Teeth
Poor tooth enamel due to unhealthy dental practices or decay. Impacts or trauma from sports or accidents. Chewing or taking a hard bite on hard foods, candies or even ice cubes. Teeth grinding while asleep or awake.
A chipped tooth usually occurs because of some sort of trauma, such as a fall or a blow to the mouth. It can also occur because of biting down on a substance that is too hard. If your tooth is decayed, a chip is more likely, but it can also happen to perfectly healthy teeth.
Leaving a broken tooth untreated can also potentially cause more risk of other surrounding teeth becoming infected as well, impacting overall health. Complete, immediate repairs are always best. The longer you wait, the more in-depth treatment could be.
Teeth that Are Too Physically Damaged Need to Be Extracted
However, if that crack is down the middle of the tooth, or if it extends beneath the gum line, the tooth may be too physically damaged to save. If your tooth has lost its structural stability, then you can't use it to chew, and you will need to extract it.
Genetic factors cause congenitally missing teeth and this condition is often seen in generations of a family. The most common missing teeth are wisdom teeth, upper lateral incisors, and second premolars/bicuspids.
The biggest factor a dentist looks at when deciding if a tooth can be saved is how much “good” tooth structure there is left. If the tooth is broken at the gumline and has a big cavity that goes down to the bone then there is little hope that the tooth can be saved.