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Tooth enamel is the very hard outer layer of your teeth. It’s intended to be strong enough to bite and chew common yet hard foods. However, there are some abnormal events that can chip tooth enamel. This is even more likely to occur if you have a bad habit of nibbling on things, using your teeth as tools, or grinding your teeth at night.

When a chip occurs, it might not cause you much pain or discomfort. While you might be tempted to forgo having it treated, this could be a significant mistake. The damaged enamel can trap bacteria and food particles, encouraging a new area of tooth decay to form. Since the enamel has already been damaged, this could very quickly turn a small chip into a big problem.

If a chip is small, your dentist, Dr. Crawford A. Tatum Jr., might recommend repairing it with a composite or amalgam filling. For a tooth suffering from a large chip, they might recommend a dental crown.

If you have small chips on multiple teeth in your smile, Dr. Crawford A. Tatum Jr. might be able to fit you for a set of porcelain dental veneers. These are porcelain shells that cover the faces of the teeth. They will effectively address the chips and give you a white and winning smile.

If you have one or more chipped teeth in Opelika, Alabama, you should call 334-745-6393 to have it repaired as soon as possible at Tatum & Cox.