In this article, we discuss how you can treat a chipped tooth and talk about the most common treatment methods, such as dental bonding, veneers, root canal therapy, and dental crowns.
How Can I Treat a Chipped Tooth?
If you have sustained an oral trauma and chipped a tooth, we recommend seeing an emergency dentist right away. In some cases, chips can expose the tooth’s nerves and lead to tooth loss if not treated promptly. Also, your dentist will check whether the impact affected the tooth’s roots and the surrounding blood vessels.
While you are waiting to see the dentist, you should protect a chipped tooth to prevent complications:
- Avoid chewing on the side of your mouth where the chipped tooth is located.
- Cover sharp edges with dental wax to prevent lacerations.
- Rinse with warm salt water to keep the area clean and soothe irritation.
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding uses a resin composite (the same material used for dental fillings) to restore chipped or cracked teeth or mask cosmetic imperfections, such as staining, uneven tooth shape or size, and minor gaps between teeth.
Dental bonding is used to treat minor to moderate chipped teeth when the damage does not involve extensive loss of tooth structure, especially when the chip is cosmetic, does not affect the tooth’s nerve, and the patient wants a quick, conservative, and cost-effective treatment.
To restore a chipped tooth with dental bonding, your doctor will first prepare the tooth by roughening its surface and applying a conditioning liquid. This step helps the bonding material to properly attach to the tooth. Then, a tooth-colored composite resin is applied to the chipped area, and the dentist shapes and molds it to restore your natural tooth’s shape as closely as possible.
At the end of the procedure, the bonding material is hardened with a special light and then polished to achieve a natural tooth-like shine.
Dental Veneers
Similar to bonding, dental veneers are used to treat a chipped tooth when the tooth’s structure is sound overall, and the trauma did not expose the nerves. However, veneers are often preferred to bonding when:
- The chip is moderate to large.
- Multiple cosmetic issues are present, including chips and discoloration, uneven shape, and small gaps.
- A stronger, more stain-resistant solution is needed than bonding can provide
- The patient wants a longer-lasting result (porcelain veneers can last up to 15 years, while bonding typically lasts for up to 7 years)
Applying veneers requires removing a thin layer of enamel so the porcelain shell, which covers the entire front side of the tooth, can fit among the surrounding teeth, making this method less conservative.
Root Canal Therapy and Dental Crowns
Root canal therapy and subsequent dental crown placement are required when the chip exposes the inner dentin of the tooth. In such cases, immediate medical attention is required to save the chipped tooth.
During this procedure, your doctor cleans the tooth’s canals, removing damaged pulp, and then fills the canals with special biocompatible material. After the canals are cleaned and sealed, the crown is placed to restore the chipped area, reinforce the tooth, and protect it from future cracking.
Make an Appointment at My Dentist Anaheim
If you have sustained an oral trauma and chipped or cracked your tooth, do not hesitate to make an appointment with an experienced dentist at My Dentist Anaheim. At our dental office, we offer a wide range of restorative and cosmetic procedures to help our clients preserve their oral health. We are looking forward to your visit.