Many different things can chip your tooth: chewing on ice, using your teeth to open things, not wearing a mouthguard when playing sports, and grinding or clenching your teeth. A chipped tooth can result in a less-than-flawless smile and can lead to further dental problems.
Using common dental procedures, a chipped tooth can be repaired in many different ways. Here are 4 different ways the dentist can repair your chipped tooth.
Dental Bonding or Filling
If you chip one of your front teeth, the dentist will likely use dental bonding to repair the chipped tooth.
A tooth-colored composite resin is applied to your tooth and cured (hardened) with a special light.
The dentist will then buff the tooth to the desired shape and polish it off.
If you have a small chip towards the back of your mouth, the dentist will likely use a normal, white-colored filling to repair the tooth. Because it’s in the back of your mouth, the color isn’t as important.
Dental Crown
If you have a big, noticeable chip in one of your teeth, the dentist can use a dental crown to repair the tooth.
The dentist will file down the tooth to make room for the dental crown and will take an impression of your tooth to send to the lab. You will be given a temporary crown in the meantime.
Once the crown is made, you will return and the dentist will cement the crown to your tooth.
Dental Veneer
Porcelain veneers offer another way to repair chipped teeth. A porcelain veneer is a thin shell of tooth-colored porcelain used to restore the appearance of a tooth.
During the initial appointment, the dentist will determine whether a porcelain veneer is an appropriate way to repair your chipped tooth.
In the second appointment, the dentist will remove a small layer of enamel to make room for the veneer. An impression of your tooth will be made and sent to the lab, as a model for the veneer.
During the final appointment, your new veneer will be cemented to the front of your tooth, restoring the tooth’s appearance.
Root Canal
If the chip in your tooth is deep enough to reach the pulp (the inner layer of your tooth), you may need a root canal. Because bacteria have access to the inner layer of your tooth through a deep chip, your tooth is at risk of becoming infected.
If you have pain in chipped tooth, your tooth may already be infected. Having the infected pulp removed can salvage the actual tooth itself, avoiding the need for a tooth extraction.
Whether the chip in your tooth is small or big, it’s important to have the dentist examine the damage and help you decide the best way to repair your tooth.
For more information or to schedule a dental appointment, contact Greenspoint Dental in Houston, Texas. We are dedicated to providing you and your loved ones with the best dental care.