Restoring Chipped Tooth

Most of us have encountered a chipped or broken tooth sometime or the other in our lives. It may have happened when you were eating a candy or ice or some hard food or even while playing. You suddenly realize that you have ended up breaking more than what you can chew. And if it is one of our front teeth or a big one it can send us into a panic like situation. Don’t worry though you are not the first or the last person who has chipped or broken their teeth.

What to do if you chip your tooth?

While enamel is one of the strongest things in our body but then it can also chip or break at times. Don’t ignore your chipped tooth and consult your family dentist as soon as possible. With the advances in dental technology in recent past there is a lot of restorative work your dentist can do on your chipped tooth. Also there is a possibility that a chipped tooth may get more damaged or infected if ignored so best go see your dentist as soon as possible.

There are some things however which you can do immediately at home to protect your teeth –

  1. If it is hurting, don’t hesitate to take any suitable over the counter medication.
  2. Rinse your mouth with a mouthwash to get rid of any tooth debris in the mouth, there may be some pieces with jagged edges that can harm gums and other soft tissue in the mouth.
  3. Apply icepack from the outside of the mouth to relieve the pain.
  4. If you have to eat something eat only soft food.

Please note if there is bleeding, use a gauze or cotton to control it then rush to the emergency without delay. If the whole tooth is broken handle only the crown part and not the root of it. Take all fragments along with you to the emergency room.

What will the dentist do to restore my chipped tooth?

Dentists use different restorative and cosmetic procedures to restore a chipped tooth depending on the damage.

  1. Bonding and fillings – Dental fillings are used to restore the tooth to its natural appearance and function. This is the procedure adopted in case you have chipped off only a small piece of the tooth and when the damage is not very severe. Bonding on the other hand is a procedure used for front teeth which involves creating a mould by applying a composite resin over the tooth which is then shaped and filed by the dentist to make it look like it is a natural part of the tooth. This is then hardened using an ultraviolet light similar to acrylic gel nails. This is one of the most common procedures used by dentists across the world because its quick, easy, affordable and a durable solution for a chipped tooth.
  • Veneers – Bonding helps when the chipped part is a small one but what if it’s a big one? The answer is veneers. Veneers are thin shells of materials like ceramic or porcelain which are bonded to the front of the teeth to give it a good appearance. They can be bonded permanently to the teeth and last pretty long some as long as 20 years if proper care is taken of them. But it is worth mentioning here that even a veneer can break or chip while eating hard foods. Veneers come in a wide range of prices from reasonably priced to expensive ones. Veneers need to be custom made so your dentist has to take an impression of the chipped tooth. Before he does that he may need to prepare your tooth by filing it or removing some enamel. The impression is then sent to a lab that will prepare the veneer and once prepared it will be placed on your teeth and bonded to it by your dentist. This whole process can take a couple of weeks time.
  • Crowns – If the tooth which has chipped or broken is infected or has decay your dentist may advise a crown over a veneer. Both of them are similar except veneer is a little more cosmetic while crown is more restorative. Read more about them in our blog Veneers vs Crowns. Crown is a cap made to protect the tooth and improve its appearance. It is tooth shaped and made of porcelain, metal or resin. Different materials have different pros and cons. Since the tooth is infected it may need a root canal before a crown can be fitted. Generally making a crown would involve getting a X-Ray and if all is well then an impression will be made which will be sent to the lab to make the crown. This is then fitted on top of the remaining teeth. Depending on the technology used this can be done same day procedure or may take 2 to 3 weeks. Crowns prevent further damage to the tooth.
  • Dental Implants – If there is no way to restore the broken tooth, the dentist will advise you to get dental implants.  This is costly and also takes a lot of time however in case of severe damage this is probably the best possible solution. Implants look and feel like natural teeth and are a durable solution. Implants are the closest replacement thing to a natural tooth. It is a titanium screw, which is surgically placed into the jaw bone. They resemble artificial root and the crown. Different types of dental implants are available and your dentist can guide on which is most suitable for you.

In conclusion one can say there are many ways in which a chipped tooth can be restored. Hope you found this blog informative. You can always call Ensure Dental Care (the family dentist near you) on 682-213-4114 for more information or to schedule an appointment. Ensure Dental Care is the one of the best family dental clinics at Saginaw Texas. We accept all major insurance providers.

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