Chipped tooth? How is it fixed? (and terrified of required visit- please help)

[sylviestrength]

Chipped tooth? How is it fixed? (and terrified of required visit- please help)

Hi, everyone!
First, I would just like to say hello. I'm new to these forums and this website and think it is WONDERFUL- I already feel significantly less scared about my next dentist's visit. I tend to be a very anxious person in general and have actually not been to the dentist in about two years, so I'm honestly quite ashamed of that and am very scared of my first visit back and what's going to be wrong.
I have a dental question and am also in need of moral support, so I will first start with a question for the dentists and/or knowledgeable people.

I chipped my lower front tooth about a month ago while biting my nail (an awful habit, I know), but it was a minuscule, minuscule, chip, and I was still kind of terrified to schedule a dentist's appointment, so I put it off, but I was concerned about the chip. Why was my tooth weak enough to chip? I'm a vigorous brusher and I gave up sodas and coffee about a year ago (though I'm kind of bad about flossing mainly because I have sensitive, sensitive teeth, but I still always make an effort); I try to take good care of them. I actually have a medical condition called Beta Thalassemia which depletes my iron storage without regular iron infusions, but I have it under control, though I recently discovered that I also have very, very, very low Vitamin D levels, which I know can contribute to tooth health and bone health (I have no idea what my Calcium levels are, they might be low). Could that be why? Or are my teeth really unhealthy? Anyways, it seems like the chip is getting bigger and like there's a hole in the tooth, and although it's only even visible if you look at it up close (one of the only times I've ever been thankful for my overbite, heh), the feel of it is driving me CRAZY. It feels like my whole tooth could crumble, though I don't know if that's just my anxiety or not. At any rate, it's finally driven me to the dentist, which is good I guess, but bottom line, here are my two questions:
1) What could have caused my tooth to chip from such a minor stimuli?
2) Can the dentist fix it? They can, right?
3) If they can fix it, how will they go about doing so? Can they in one visit? Will it be painful? How long will it take? Will I need to be numbed/medicated?


I'm going in as soon as they can get me in, so if I could get moral support from ANYONE, that would be amazing, because I'm very nervous. Thank you so much to anyone who read through all of this and decides to reply.

 

[carole]

Re: Chipped tooth? How is it fixed? (and terrified of required visit- please help)

Hi sylviestrength I am not a dentist so I cannot say how they will fix your tooth, it may even be okay to leave for the time being, maybe they can put a little bit of white filling on it. I chipped both my top front teeth when I was 8, I am now 54 at the time the dentist just filed them down a bit. I still have these teeth today, so yours might not be too drastic.

It is best that you go and see the dentist and they can tell you best, you shouldn't feel any pain at all for any treatment you may need. They can do fillings, rct's extractions etc... with no pain at all now, so don't worry.

You will be fine. Good luck let us know how you go on when you feel ready.

Best wishes

 

[Patti]

Re: Chipped tooth? How is it fixed? (and terrified of required visit- please help)

I broke a tooth once--biting into a Heath Bar. It was a top premolar, The dentist filled it with a white filling (maybe she bonded it--it don't know) but it took about 20 minutes and it didn't hurt.