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Chipped Tooth ?

  • 13-10-2013 4:16pm
    #1
    Usjes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 326 ✭✭


    Hi, I was chomping some mixed seeds this morning (mainly poppy and linseed) and I bit into what felt like something crystaline (like a piece of glass or something) and one my teeth felt a bit sore as a result so I thought I might have chipped it. Its the first premolar that is affected so I took and a mirror and a torch but I couldn't really see any damage, if there is it is very minor but its hard to tell as it is a premolar so the surface is quite jagged/uneven anyway. So I have two questions: (i) Is it possible to injure a tooth such that it will be sensitive without actually doing structural damage to the enamel, something like 'bruising' a tooth ? (ii) If not, I assume I have a very small chip in my premolar, does this neccessarily require a dentist's attention, or if it is a very small/shallow chip will the newly exposed enamel become as insensitive as the original surface over time ? Thanks, Usjes.


Comments

  • #2
    btkm8unsl0w5r4
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,535 ✭✭✭btkm8unsl0w5r4


    Its totally impossible to tell without seeing your teeth. If the tooth is a bit senstive then most likely the dentine is exposed and needs attention. But more importantly perfect teeth usually dont chip, often there is some decay. I would defo get a checkup.


  • #3
    Usjes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 326 ✭✭Usjes


    Estella Old-fashioned Kiwi wrote: »
    Its totally impossible to tell without seeing your teeth. If the tooth is a bit senstive then most likely the dentine is exposed and needs attention. But more importantly perfect teeth usually dont chip, often there is some decay. I would defo get a checkup.

    Decay seems unlikely as I can see any sign but more importantly I had an appointment with the hyginist last Wednesday so I assume she would have referred me to the dentist if there was any sign of decay. Instead they scheduled a checkup for next Feb. I dont fancy dropping another €80+ just to have the dentist say he can't see anything wrong with the tooth, given that its a pre-molar its really not that hard to see with a handheld mirrror and a torch really gives a clear view, I may try taking a photo of it this evening.

    I'm still wondering if it is something other than a chip like 'bruising', thinking about it a tooth is a rigid structure so presumably it will ultimately transfer any force (due to bighting down on something hard) into the tissue underneath. I wonder if it is like bruising to the gum or whatever soft tissue sits beneath the tooth that is causing the sensitivity.


  • #4
    georgieporgy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,927 ✭✭✭georgieporgy


    a hairline crack in the tooth would be difficult to see but would explain sensitivity. Try biting on a piece of rubber, if you feel a sharp pain upon releasing pressure on the rubber then most likely it is a crack.
    that would be bad news and would need prompt attention.


  • #5
    Usjes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 326 ✭✭Usjes


    georgieporgy wrote: »
    a hairline crack in the tooth would be difficult to see but would explain sensitivity. Try biting on a piece of rubber, if you feel a sharp pain upon releasing pressure on the rubber then most likely it is a crack.
    that would be bad news and would need prompt attention.

    It's quite odd, I have just tried biting down on a biro cap (so stiff plastic rather than rubber) there is no noticeable senstation on biting or releasing. The only time I really seem to notice anything is when I am eating something like corn flakes. The premolar has a depression in the centre (ie the outside edges are longer) and it seem when the depression gets filled up with half chewed material if I then chomp down on more food there is a bit of sensitivity in the tooth. To me this suggests that the sensitivity only arises when the pressure is focused near the bottom of the depression (centre of the premolar) but this is the easiest surface of the tooth to view and I dont see anything (I have even dragged a sewing needle across this surface to see if there are any holes that might still be clogged up with food after brushing my teeth but it all seems normal). And having said that, if I now try applying pressure to the centre of the tooth directly with the nail of my thumb again I feel nothing when applying or releasing the pressure. So it is all very odd. I have been working on the assumption that it is some minor damage to the tissue beneath the tooth and that it will heal in a couple of days.


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