How Can a Dentist Fix an Unsightly Chipped Tooth?
A chipped tooth sounds like cause for serious concern, but it isn't always that much of a problem. Depending on how much of the tooth is left unharmed and how sharp the damaged part it, it can sometimes be left alone without causing any other dental issues.
If you have a chipped front tooth and have been given the all-clear by a dentist, however, you might not be happy. Despite the tooth being considered healthy, you may be upset by the way it looks, leaving you with low confidence and making you want to hide your smile. Luckily, there are a few treatments available to make a chipped tooth whole again, so consider your options:
Bonding
This is often the most straightforward treatment, and a dentist may be able to complete it in just a single session, so you can go home with your tooth looking as good as new right away.
Using a plastic resin that's similar to one of the materials used for fillings, the dentist can simply replace the missing part of the tooth. The bonding material is stuck on to the remaining tooth structure, moulded into shape and hardened. You may have to take a bit of care with hard or sticky foods when you've had a bonding treatment, but it's fairly durable. If anything does happen to it, at least replacing it is not difficult.
Porcelain veneer
Veneers are used for a range of different cosmetic reasons, and they're ideal for chipped teeth. A porcelain veneer is just a very thin tooth-like structure that's fixed in place over the top of a natural tooth. Because it's shaped like a whole tooth, it effectively restores the missing portion.
In order to fit a veneer, the dentist will need to shave away a little bit of the tooth's enamel to help it stick in place. It's a small price to pay for a great treatment, though, and as long as you look after your veneers you'll have no problems.
Crown
Crowns represent a tougher, more permanent solution, but also one that needs more extensive treatment. The crown is a whole false tooth that fits over part of your real tooth, bonded firmly in place. Before fitting it, part of the tooth will need to be filed away, leaving a smaller structure that can hold the crown. Although it might not sound very nice, it's a straightforward procedure that gives really good results, and once the crown is in place, you'll never know it's not a real tooth.
Contact a cosmetic dentistry office for more information and assistance.
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