Ways to Fix a Chipped Tooth
March 14, 2023 - Digital Resource BloggerDo you have a cracked tooth? Not to worry. According to cosmetic dentistry in Santa Clara, even if you regularly brush and floss your teeth, your front or back tooth could still be broken if you bite down on anything hard. But it doesn’t mean you’ll always have to hide your smile. Several cosmetic procedures are available to fix the tooth and restore your smile. To find out how to treat a chipped tooth, continue reading.
Dental Treatments That Can Fix a Chipped Tooth
Root Canal
Your dentist may decide that a root canal is the best course of therapy for you if the chip in your tooth is so severe that it qualifies as a fracture and extends up to the pulp. This is because the nerve damage to your tooth may already be permanent at this stage.
The tooth’s roots and pulp are removed during a root canal, and the area is thoroughly cleansed. Following this, the area will be sealed off to prevent future infection. Once everything is okay, a dental implant and crown could be positioned here to prevent further tooth loss.
Knowing that there are several dental procedures available to help restore your tooth when it chips is consoling. Depending on the nature and depth of the chip, these treatments—dental bonding, dental crown placement, porcelain veneer placement, or root canal treatment—are all successful.
Ceramic Veneers
Another type of long-lasting dental treatment is porcelain veneers. This straightforward procedure covers the front of a tooth that has been injured. The majority of veneers are made of porcelain, and the color can be matched to your actual teeth. To apply a veneer, teeth must also be prepared. However, unlike crowns, only the topmost layer of enamel will need to be removed by the dentist. Veneers are a minimally invasive process that produces long-lasting results.
Dental Crown
A dental crown is better than dental bonding if a significant amount of your tooth has chipped off. What’s left of your broken tooth can be securely held together by the crown. What’s left of the tooth will essentially be covered with a crown, producing a new tooth in its place.
The remainder of your chipped tooth will first be reshaped for the crown to be fitted snugly on top of it. The crown will match the other teeth in your mouth and will look and work just like a normal tooth.
Dental Bonding
Minor chips can be easily and affordably repaired with dental bonding. In this procedure, your dentist will coat the chipped tooth with a tooth-colored composite resin. After shaping the material to match the neighboring teeth, they will use a special light to cure the resin. The resin adheres to the tooth as it becomes harder.
Because dental bonding is quick and painless, patients favor it. The dentist won’t typically even need to numb the region. Although the effects of bonding are spectacular, they are not permanent. After 3 to 10 years, most patients will require a follow-up procedure. Dental bonding may shatter too soon if you consume hard candies, chew on ice, or engage in contact sports.
Dental Implants
If left untreated, a chipped tooth that initially seems harmless can develop into a more serious problem. Sometimes, a large chip or break enables germs to enter the pulp chamber of the tooth, which will later kill the nerve. If the tooth is severely injured, your dentist may have to extract it rather than do a root canal.
A dental implant is the most effective approach to repairing your smile after losing a tooth. The immediate replacement of a lost tooth will stop the adjacent teeth from moving. Additionally, dental implants will aid in preventing periodontal disease and bone loss. Your dentist will surgically inject a titanium post into the jawbone to install an implant. The post permanently fuses in place when the wound heals, and the dentist will then fill the gap by attaching a crown or bridge to the top of the post.
Contact Our Professionals to Learn More About Cosmetic Dentistry in Santa Clara
If you have questions about the above-stated treatments or you want to avail one of them, feel free to set an appointment with us!