Author: Karen Girard

When chipping a tooth, you will only feel pain if the chip exposes the nerves in the inner layer of the tooth. If the nerve is exposed inside a tooth, you may experience increased tooth sensitivity or pain when chewing. A chip on the pointed chewing surfaces on the back teeth is commonly referred to as a “broken cusp,” and is rarely painful. However, it is advised to have this examined by a professional at Lindner Dental as you may need a crown to restore the shape of the tooth.

What are the Causes of a Chipped Tooth?

The most common causes of a chipped tooth include:

• Falling & injuring your mouth
• Biting on hard candy, food or a bone
• Suffering trauma to the face from an accident or sports related injury
• Cavities which can weaken the tooth

At-Home Care for a Chipped Tooth

If you have a chipped tooth, it’s best to make an appointment with the professionals at Lindner Dental. In the meantime, follow the steps below:

• Rinse your mouth with warm water
• If there is bleeding, apply pressure to the area with a gauze
• Cover the chipped tooth with dental cement until you see a dentist

Professional Care for a Chipped Tooth

In cases where it’s a small chip, no additional treatment will be needed. Generally, the chipped tooth will be smoothed and polished. When minor damage affects the tooth enamel, you will need a filling, crown or cap to cover the chipped tooth. This will also protected the inner layers of the teeth from infection. When the tooth nerve is exposed, you will need a root canal to remove the damaged nerve.

Contact Lindner Dental at 603.944.9196 to book an appointment for your chipped tooth!

X-rays are a valuable tool for discovering issues in the teeth and bones. In order to properly diagnose dental diseases, X-rays are a crucial instrument, but they are not necessary for every exam. Patients who are at low risk for tooth decay and gum disease should have X-rays less frequently. By scheduling an X-ray, dentists are able to determine if a patient shows signs of disease or other potential problems that are otherwise unseen to the naked eye.
Generally, dentists offer X-rays once they’ve discovered signs and symptoms of a potential dental disease due to diet, hygiene, fluoride use or a number of other factors.  The dentists at Lindner Dental will check your child’s teeth, health history and risk factors prior to deciding if an X-ray is necessary.

See Below for the 5 types of X-rays that may be used on children:

Bitewing X-rays display the area between the teeth that cannot be seen directly. These X-rays are only necessary if the teeth in the back of the mouth are touching each other.

Periapical X-rays help dentists to view the crowns and roots of one or multiple teeth that are next to each other.  This type of X-ray displays the supporting bone structure of the teeth and a child’s permanent teeth growing below the baby teeth.

Panoramic X-rays show all teeth on one film along with the upper and lower jaws. Panoramic X-rays are most commonly used when a child has injured his or her face or is undergoing orthodontic problems.

Occlusal X-rays are used to view either the upper or lower teeth on one film. Occlusal X-rays are beneficial if the dentist does not have a panoramic X-ray machine or the child is struggling in taking a bitewing X-ray.

Orthodontic X-rays display the head from the side view. It is primarily used to evaluate jaw growth and the relationship of bones in the skull.

Lindner Dental takes all safety precautions when providing patients with an X-ray. With our advanced X-ray equipment, we can prevent unnecessary radiation and focus the X-ray on a specific part of the mouth. Contact us today at 603.624.3900 to schedule an appointment with our pediatric dentists in Bedford NH.

Most people get their wisdom teeth in their late teens or early twenties. These are the last set of molars to grow in and when properly aligned, can be a crucial asset to the mouth. Unfortunately, more often than not, wisdom teeth are misaligned and must be removed.

If wisdom teeth are misaligned, they may be angled horizontally, away or toward the second molars, or angled inward or outward. Wisdom teeth can actually damage adjacent teeth and compromise the jawbone or the nerves if not removed.  When enclosed within the soft tissue, wisdom teeth can end up erupting through the gum. In instances of partial eruption, bacteria enters around the tooth and causes infection. This can lead to tooth decay, gum disease, swelling, a stiff jaw, pain and general illness.

Do I Have Wisdom Teeth?

Your dentist will periodically take an X-ray to see if your wisdom teeth came or if there are any issues with the alignment. Additionally, you may need to see an oral surgeon for further evaluation. Many dentists recommend that wisdom teeth be extracted before any complications arise. Removal of the wisdom teeth is an easier process on young people because the roots are not fully developed and the bone is less dense.

How Are Wisdom Teeth Extracted?

The ease of extracting your wisdom teeth is completely dependent on the position and stage of development. Wisdom teeth that have erupted through the gums can be easily extracted, but when they are under the gums and embedded in the jawbone, an incision is required. In this situation, the wisdom teeth should be extracted in smaller sections in order to minimize the amount of bone that needs to be removed.

Contact Lindner Dental at 603.944.9196 to schedule an X-ray for your wisdom teeth!