Do You Have Sharp Edges On Your Teeth?

It might seem a relatively minor issue but it is one that our Wickford patients shouldn’t ignore.

When we experience a significant dental problem, such as a broken tooth or a bad toothache, most of us will contact the dentist for an appointment at the first possible opportunity. Where we are less concerned about a problem, we might decide to wait until our next check up appointment, even if it is a little way away. We have discussed the possible outcomes of a mild toothache being left before, but today we want to look at a small issue that often gets overlooked, and that is when we notice a sharp edge on one of our teeth.

These edges can be very small, but they still shouldn’t be ignored. As we will see in today’s blog, even tiny edges that are sharp can have some less than pleasant consequences.

What causes a sharp edge?

Sometimes, this can be from a significant injury such as a broken tooth, but the very small ones we are generally talking about today can come from a variety of reasons.

Wear and tear, damage from teeth grinding and even enamel erosion can cause these edges to appear, and it may not even be the actual tooth that is causing it. With an old filling, it may be that the sharpness arises from a damaged edge of the filling material itself rather than the adjacent enamel. As these are usually too small to see ourselves, you will need the dentist at the Cygnet Dental Practice in Wickford to take a closer look for you.

Immediate issues you might experience

A sharp, or rough edge on a tooth can cause a number of issues that the patient notices almost immediately. One obvious one is when it cuts or grazes the soft tissues of the mouth. What these effects will be, will depend on the nature and location of the problem, but the lips, cheeks and tongue can all be affected. This can not only cause discomfort but could also lead to infections of the soft tissue too.

Depending on the nature of the damage, there is always a possibility that the structure of the tooth has been compromised. While this is less likely than where there has been an obvious breakage, it can still be a possibility. Ignoring what might only be minor damage for a while then, could potentially lead to a further deterioration of the tooth.

If we find that the sharp edged tooth makes eating more uncomfortable, we might also use other teeth instead, potentially creating additional pressure and problems elsewhere in the mouth.

What can we do to help?

The first thing that a dentist at the Cygnet Dental Practice will do is to examine the tooth in question. This may be a visual examination or scans and x-rays may be taken if the dentist thinks this necessary. In most cases, a small chip that leads to a sharp edge may be cosmetic, but it is always good to rule out worse case scenarios too.

The treatment applied will depend on a number of factors, but there are a number of options available to us. These include:

• Smoothing the sharp edge – This can be done by taking the sharp point off the damaged tooth by smoothing and polishing it. This is usually done where very little will need to be removed and will not compromise the tooth
• Composite bonding – This can be used to rebuild the tooth enamel and remove the sharpness that is causing the discomfort.
• Replacing fillings – If an old filling has become damaged and is causing the discomfort, the dentist may remove the old filling and refill the cavity. This also helps to reduce the risk of decay that may have occurred if bacteria had accessed the tooth via the damaged filling material.

Don’t delay

While many issues caused by a sharp edge on a tooth may not be serious, this could develop over time so it is always best to have a dentist examine the problematic tooth as soon as possible. Even without serious issues, these edges can cause significant discomfort, especially to the soft tissues within the oral cavity, and may lead to infections that need to be treated.

As is the case with any dental issue that you notice, it is always best to act promptly and to book an appointment with one of our Wickford team. If you have a problematic sharp tooth, or other issue that you consider to be minor, you should get this checked as soon as you can.

To book your appointment with us, please call the Cygnet Dental Practice today on 01268 733078.