How Long Can I Wait to See the Dentist When I Have a Chipped Tooth? | Dental Arts San Diego

Introduction

A chipped tooth is never fun to deal with. It can be painful and annoying, making it a dental issue one wants to get fixed as soon as possible. But what if you can’t get to the dentist as early as you want? In this video, Dr. Nawrocki from Dental Arts San Diego answers, “How long can I wait to see the dentist if I have a chipped tooth?” before it becomes more of an issue.

Your discomfort and aesthetic awareness level influence how long you can wait before getting your chipped tooth fixed. If the chip is on one of your front teeth, you may want to get it fixed sooner rather than later, depending on how you think you look and how you want others to see you. If it happens to one of your back teeth and there isn’t much discomfort, you can give yourself a couple of days.

The general recommendation is to see a dentist as soon as possible because once you have unprotected tissue or pieces of your tooth are missing, there’s a possibility of more serious complications and the need for more serious treatment.

For example, if a little piece of your tooth is missing and you decide to wait six months before tending to it, the bacteria from your mouth has accumulated and entered your tooth’s nerve chamber, leading to needing a root canal. Seeing a dentist right away and placing a filling on the tooth can prevent this from happening. The size of the tooth, the size of the nerve chamber, the age of the patient, and other factors will influence the healing of the tooth, but the sooner you can make it, the better it will be for you and your injured tooth.

If you have a chipped tooth needing attention, contact Dental Arts San Diego. We can help alleviate discomfort and make your smile look its best again. Schedule an appointment today by calling us at (619) 762-4430 or clicking here. We are located at 707 Arnele Avenue, El Cajon, CA, 92020.