What can cause a crown to chip?
A chip is usually the ceramic surface fracturing under a force it was not designed to take. Common causes are grinding or clenching, biting something hard or unexpected, a bite that loads one spot unevenly, a thin ceramic layer over a metal or zirconia core, material fatigue over years, a blow to the face, and occasionally a fracture of the tooth underneath.
A small, smooth chip with no symptoms can often be polished or repaired with bonded composite. A large chip, an exposed core, a sharp edge, a recurring chip, or a chip with pain, looseness or a crack in the tooth usually means the crown is replaced. An examination, sometimes with an x-ray, decides.
What changes the answer
Where the crown sits, the size and location of the chip, the material and design, whether the tooth beneath is involved, your grinding history and what the opposing teeth are made of.
Cause table
| Cause | What you may notice | What is usually done |
|---|---|---|
| Grinding or clenching | Worn edges on several teeth; morning jaw ache; chips recur | Repair or replace; night guard discussed (NIDCR) |
| Hard or unexpected bite (ice, pits, bones) | Sudden chip while eating | Polish or repair; replace if large |
| Uneven bite | One spot wears or chips | Bite adjusted; repair or replace |
| Thin veneering ceramic over a core | Chip exposes a different-colored layer; systematic reviews report veneer chipping as a leading complication of layered crowns | Repair short-term; replace, often with a single-material crown |
| Fatigue over years | Chip without a clear event on an older crown | Evaluate the whole crown |
| Trauma | Chip after a blow | Check the tooth and neighbors for cracks |
| Fractured tooth beneath | Pain on biting, looseness; the American Association of Endodontists' cracked-tooth signs (AAE) | Crown replaced; sometimes root canal or extraction |
Repair versus replace
| Repair or polish often possible | Replacement usually discussed |
|---|---|
| Small, smooth, no symptoms | Large or sharp |
| Core not exposed | Core exposed |
| First chip | Recurring chips |
| Margin closed | Pain, looseness, or crack in the tooth |
What to do now
Keep the piece if you have it. Avoid chewing on that side. Cover a sharp edge with orthodontic wax if you have it. Call the office during listed hours.
If any of these apply, this is not a dental-office problem first: trouble breathing or swallowing, rapidly spreading swelling of the face or neck, fever with facial swelling, bleeding that will not stop, or a serious injury to the head or jaw. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. Do not use the appointment request form for these.
Preventing the next chip
Night guard if grinding is diagnosed, no ice or hard candies, mouthguard for contact sports, and a bite check at routine visits.
Next step: Request a consultation or call (805) 565-5111. A request is not a confirmed appointment; the office confirms times during its listed hours (Monday to Thursday, 8 am to 5 pm, plus select Fridays).
Chip triage checklist
| Note | My answer |
|---|---|
| Which crown, and how old? | |
| What was I doing when it chipped? | |
| Size: fleck, corner, or large piece? | |
| Different color showing underneath? | |
| Sharp edge? | |
| Pain, especially on biting? Looseness? | |
| Do I grind or clench? | |
| Has this crown chipped before? |
Call the office for any chip. 911 or an emergency department for breathing or swallowing difficulty, spreading swelling, uncontrolled bleeding or severe trauma.
Guides are general education; an examination is needed for individual advice.
Sources
- Bruxism — National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
- Six Things You Need to Know About Stress-Related Tooth Injuries Like Cracked Teeth (Aug 2021) — American Association of Endodontists
- Clinician statement — Loul Dental Studio
- Clinician statement — Loul Dental Studio
Sources were current when this guide was last updated.
Educational content, not a diagnosis. Please contact the studio to discuss your own situation.