Fixing A Chipped Tooth

What To Do With A Chipped Tooth

A chipped tooth is not uncommon. In fact, chipped teeth are the most common dental injury of all. However, just because it is common, don’t let that fact fool you into ignoring your chipped tooth.

Any kind of trauma to your teeth deserves immediate attention. A small chip may not cause you pain, but there could be significant damage underneath the surface of the tooth. In our dental office, we can rule out cracks or internal tooth problems that aren’t visible to the naked eye. The good news is in many cases, a chipped tooth can be repaired in just one visit.

There are several options for treating a chipped tooth, and they vary according to the extent of damage that has been done to the tooth.

Depending on our evaluation, any one of these treatments for a chipped tooth may be recommended.

Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is used in most cases and with the bonding, chips can be corrected easily. A dental bonding procedure is an efficient, durable and cost-effective way to correct minor chips.

Enamel Shaping

Enamel shaping is often used in conjunction with dental bonding. Enamel shaping can also correct small chips or surface flaws. The enamel shaping process removes a small portion of the tooth’s surface and is re-contoured to smooth out imperfections.

Dental Veneers

If the chip is significant and dental bonding or enamel shaping can’t be used, you may need a veneer. A veneer is a thin, porcelain wafer that completely covers the surface of the tooth and is often used for front teeth.

Root Canal
 
If there is pain involved in the chipped tooth it could be a sign that the nerve has become exposed. In that instance, it may be necessary to perform a root canal in order to save the tooth.

Dental Crown

A dental crown is used to completely cover larger teeth or to cap a tooth after a root canal.

Tooth Extraction

If the tooth can’t be saved, tooth extraction may be necessary. The good news is a dental bridge or dental implants can replace missing teeth.

If you should crack a tooth, by all means, contact us right away so that we can correct the damages and save your tooth.