I Have a Chipped Tooth, What Happens If I Don't Get an Inlay?

Inlays and onlays restore the appearance of your teeth, but they're about much more: They protect your oral and bodywide health, too.

At Whole Body Dental in Bellevue, Washington, our experienced holistic dentistry specialists use an innovative whole-body approach to dentistry, ensuring patients play an integral role in their long-term oral and overall health.

Our minimally invasive treatments, including laser dentistry, biocompatible materials, and gentle methods, prioritize your well-being.

If you’ve chipped a tooth, you might think it’s just a cosmetic issue or that it can wait, but skipping an inlay could lead to severe dental complications. Here's what you need to know about the dangers of leaving a chipped tooth untreated.

Hidden dangers of an untreated chipped tooth

Even a small chip can create big problems, including:

Increased risk of decay and infection

A chipped tooth exposes the layer of tooth structure, the dentin. Much softer than the super-hard enamel, the dentin is far more vulnerable to decay and tooth infections.

Tooth sensitivity

With the delicate dentil exposed, you may experience sensitivity and discomfort when eating or drinking hot or cold foods.

Structural damage

Without reinforcement, the already-weakened tooth may chip or crack further, or break entirely.

Why an inlay is the best solution

A dental inlay is a custom-made restoration that fits into the chipped-off part of your tooth. This allows your tooth to look and function just like it did before.

While fillings are a good solution for tooth decay, they may not be right for chips. Inlays are stronger and provide the necessary durability to help your tooth function like before the chip.

The long-term impact of delaying treatment

We discussed the hidden dangers of a chipped tooth already, but things can get even worse. Without proper restoration, a chipped tooth may require:

A crown

If the chip worsens and you lose additional tooth structure, an inlay may no longer be enough to restore it. 

At that point, you could need a crown, which covers the entire tooth. While crowns are effective, they involve removing more of the natural tooth, so early intervention is best.

A root canal

When a chip extends deeper into the tooth, bacteria can invade the soft tissues in the middle of the tooth (the pulp,) leading to inflammation and infection. Left untreated, this can cause severe pain and require urgent treatment called root canal therapy to remove the infected tissue. 

Root canals are effective and can save your tooth, but they're far more complex and costly than an inlay.

Tooth extraction

This is the worst-case scenario: Losing a tooth. Unfortunately, when decay fully invades the tooth unchecked, it weakens every part of its structure, making it impossible to save. At that point, tooth extraction may be the only option. 

When you lose a tooth, you need a dental implant or bridge to replace it. Otherwise, it can lead to shifting teeth, bone loss, bite problems, and trouble chewing or speaking.

Saving the natural tooth with an inlay is the best, least complicated, and most cost-effective way to avoid these dire outcomes.

Protect your smile today

Don't let that little chip turn into a big dental crisis. Call Whole Body Dental at 425-643-1231 or book your appointment online now.