Professional Treatments and Options for Fixing Chipped Teeth

You may be reading this because you have recently experienced a chipped tooth – the phenomenon where a fragment of the tooth’s outer enamel layer breaks off. There are various situations in which your tooth may be chipped, ranging from accidents and gum disease to teeth grinding (bruxism) and biting down on something hard.

If you do notice that your tooth has become chipped, it is essential to take action to fix it – not only to enhance appearance, but also to restore the tooth’s full function and guard against further damage.

The great news is, if you’re wondering how to fix a chipped tooth, you have various options for professional treatment. So, let’s take you through them.

Common Causes of Chipped Teeth

You might wonder why teeth chip. The short answer to this question is that while the enamel that covers your teeth is the hardest and most mineralised tissue in your body, this doesn’t make it invincible.

So, teeth can be chipped or broken due to such factors as:

• Accidental trauma or injury
• The eating of hard foods or objects
• Teeth grinding (bruxism)
• The teeth having weakened due to decay and/or enamel erosion
• Lifestyle factors, such as if someone plays contact sports without a mouthguard.

Immediate Steps to Take When You Chip a Tooth

If you chip a tooth, there are certain actions you can take straight away to minimise damage and pain. These include:

• Rinsing with warm water to clean the affected area
• Using a cold compress to reduce swelling, if you experience any
• Saving any tooth fragments if possible, so that you can bring them to your dentist
• Avoiding biting down or putting any other pressure on the affected tooth
• Taking over-the-counter pain relief if you need it.

Professional Treatments for Fixing Chipped Teeth

Although a variety of options exist for how to fix a chipped tooth professionally, different treatments tend to suit different cases. So, it is important to carefully consider the pros and cons of the below procedures with your situation in mind.

Dental Bonding

This treatment involves a composite resin being applied to the front teeth. The colour of the resin is matched to the patient’s natural tooth colour. Once the resin hardens, the patient can look forward to a natural-looking appearance.

Dental bonding is best suited to the fixing of minor chips, and is a quick and affordable procedure.

Veneers

If you have one or several especially large and visible chips, you may consider a porcelain veneer treatment. In this procedure, a thin porcelain layer is secured to the tooth surface, creating an aesthetically pleasing, natural-looking result.

Veneers typically last for around a decade longer than dental bonding; they are, however, unsurprisingly more expensive.

Dental Crowns

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap, designed to protect a weak or severely damaged tooth. Dental crowns are made from porcelain, and in common with veneers, they are blended to match the natural tooth colour of the patient.

A crown treatment can add strength, full coverage, and durability to teeth that require a more comprehensive and restorative solution than dental bonding or veneers. Inevitably, though, this will be reflected in the cost of the procedure.

Root Canal And Crown

If the damage to your tooth is so great that the pulp inside has become infected, this infection can be removed with a root canal procedure.

As part of this treatment, it will be necessary for your dentist to conclude by fixing a filling or a crown to the affected tooth.

Tooth Contouring and Reshaping

This treatment entails the removal of small amounts of tooth enamel to adjust the shape, length, or appearance of the teeth.

Tooth reshaping and contouring can be effective for very small chips. However, it does leave the enamel permanently thinner, which means the patient will need to take particular care with their dental hygiene going forward.

Dental Implants

If the tooth is beyond repair – as evidenced by, for example, the crack extending below the gumline – the extraction of the tooth will be needed.

An artificial root – otherwise known as an “implant” – can then be inserted into the gumline to provide a foundation for replacement teeth.

Factors To Consider When Choosing a Treatment

When it comes to deciding between the possibilities for how to fix a chipped tooth, you may understandably feel a little overwhelmed.

Consideration of the below factors, with the help of a dentist or clinician, will help you decide on the best treatment for your needs:

• The size and severity of the chip – some treatments won’t provide the comprehensive restoration needed to restore the affected tooth’s appearance and function.
• The location of the chip – front teeth are likely to require a different treatment from that of molars, for example.
• Your budget. It is important to consider this alongside the predicted durability and lifespan of the procedure you’re thinking of enquiring about.

Fix Your Chipped Tooth Now

Whatever the nature and scale of your issue with your chipped tooth, it is crucial to seek professional advice as soon as possible, and to have the problem addressed. The sooner you take such action, the sooner you can have both the appearance and function of your chipped tooth restored.

In such situations, our team at Beech Lane Dental Care would always encourage readers to consult a dentist to determine the most suitable treatment.

You can find out more about our expertise in this field by visiting the section of our website dedicated to cosmetic dentistry services. From there, you are welcome to set up a free consultation with us by calling 0118 987 2755.