A chipped tooth can seem endearing, in some cases, or it may make your entire smile seem incomplete. In any case, the damage to your tooth structure won’t heal itself, and will in fact grow worse the longer it’s left untreated.
The good news is that your dentist offers a number of different options for fixing your chipped tooth, each designed according to the extent of your tooth’s damage. If your tooth is chipped or cracked, then schedule a visit with your dentist as soon as possible to save your smile from more serious tooth trauma.
Cosmetic and Restorative Fixes
The first step to fixing your chipped tooth is for your dentist to diagnose the extent of the damage. To do this, your dentist may use digital imaging equipment, including digital X-rays, during your examination.
Depending on how severely chipped your tooth is, you may benefit from a cosmetic touchup, or you may require a more involved restorative treatment.
Tooth bonding
Tooth bonding is a minor cosmetic procedure that involves repairing or improving tooth structure using tooth-colored composite resin. Your dentist will bond the custom-tinted biocompatible resin to your tooth, then shape, cure, and polish the resin for a durable, lifelike finish.
Tooth bonding may be suggested for small chips in teeth since the procedure requires little or no modification to your healthy tooth structure.
Porcelain veneer
A porcelain veneer is a wafer-thin shell of lifelike dental porcelain that is hand-crafted to specifically match the front surface of your tooth. A veneer can be permanently bonded in place to the front of your tooth, which your dentist will lightly prepare by sculpting away a small amount of enamel.
For moderately chipped teeth, veneers can offer both a cosmetic and restorative advantage by covering the chip and restoring your tooth’s strong structure.
Dental crown
A dental crown, or cap, completely covers your chipped tooth, and is typically recommended for more serious cases of tooth damage. If your tooth is cracked or broken, then a crown may be the best option for restoring its strength and integrity.
Dental crowns are often crafted from the same lifelike porcelain as veneers, and can blend in seamlessly with your smile while stopping your tooth from suffering more damage.
Schedule an Appointment
Our primary goal is to enhance the health and quality of life of every one our patients through customized, comprehensive dental care.
If you have a chipped tooth, then find out your options for fixing it by scheduling an appointment today. Book an appointment Call Sunnyvale Dental Care today at (408) 720-0900. We also proudly serve patients from Santa Clara, Cupertino, Mountain View, San Jose, Campbell, Palo Alto, and all surrounding communities.