When you take excellent care of your teeth, seemingly little things like a chipped tooth edge may not appear to be a huge concern. Because of this, it can be easy to overlook it or ignore it for years. However, the damage to your tooth structure can become a significant concern the longer you leave it unaddressed. At our Columbia, TN, dental office, we offer a few conservative, highly customizable ways to fix your chipped tooth and prevent it from becoming a bigger problem.
1. Bonding it with composite resin
Chipped teeth that are easiest to ignore are those that seem minor, with only a tiny portion of the tooth chipped off. While it may seem minor, the damage can affect the structural integrity of your tooth, leaving it exposed to increasingly more severe damage. In many cases, we may be able to fix the minor damage by bonding the tooth with composite resin. Customized to match the color and shade of your healthy, natural tooth structure, the resin can be securely bonded to the chipped area of your tooth, then sculpted and hardened to match your tooth’s and smile’s contours.
2. Restoring it with a porcelain veneer
A porcelain veneer is a wafer-thin shell of dental porcelain, which can be designed to mimic the color, shade, shine, and texture of your healthy, natural tooth structure and enamel. The veneer is designed to replicate the size, shape, and dimensions of your tooth’s front surface, and can be securely bonded to it to completely transform its appearance. If your tooth is significantly chipped, then a porcelain veneer may be a more suitable option for fixing it than bonding it with tooth-colored composite resin.
3. Capping it with a custom dental crown
If your tooth’s chip becomes severe over time, or if the tooth is fractured or has a large piece broken off of it, then your treatment may need to include restoring more than just its front surface. Instead of a custom veneer, we may suggest designing a porcelain dental crown to cap the tooth entirely and prevent it from suffering further damage. Made from the same lifelike material as porcelain veneers, your dental crown will blend in naturally with the appearance of your smile to both restore your tooth and improve your smile’s overall appearance.
Learn how we can fix your chipped tooth
A chipped tooth isn’t something you should ignore, even if it doesn’t seem obvious. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling Creekside Family Dental Care in Columbia, TN, today at (931) 388–3384.
Comments