If you find yourself with a chipped tooth that is bothersome in looks only (meaning the problem is not extensive enough to affect the overall health of the tooth, roots or gum), you may be wondering what you can do to improve the look of your teeth so you can again enjoy a beautiful smile. The good news is that you have a number of options to consider when just a small portion of your tooth is chipped or cracked and it does not pose further harm to the health of your mouth.
One of the easiest things you can do is to take a trip to the dentist and have them bond the tooth. The procedure of dental bonding involves the use of a tooth-colored composite resin material that is adhered to the tooth requiring repair which is then molded by the dentist to the proper shape. The material adheres to the tooth’s surface with a thin layer of adhesive, after the surface is lightly etched to create a better bond. Then, once the material is applied and shaped, an ultraviolet light is applied to harden the material. In just one quick dentist visit, and without any pain or the need for anesthesia, your teeth can be back to looking as good as new with dental bonding.
You can also have a dental veneer applied to the front of the tooth to cover the chip or crack. Veneers are a thin shell of tooth-colored material that covers the entire front of the tooth, covering the chipped area as well as the remaining exterior front portion of the tooth. Veneers are generally made from porcelain or a composite resin material and require that a mold be taken so the veneer can be fabricated specifically to fit the tooth. This means that you’ll have to make two trips to the dentist – one to etch the surface of the tooth and to take an impression so the veneer can be made and a second visit to permanently attach the veneer to the tooth’s surface.
If you find that the chip or crack in your tooth is larger than you had originally anticipated, or the damage to your teeth puts your tooth in jeopardy of sustaining further damage, then your dentist may recommend that you instead have the tooth covered by a dental crown. This procedure is more extensive and requires that the dentist grind down the existing tooth to create a post or abutment on which the new dental crown will be affixed. The crown, in essence, is like a cap that will cover the abutment and be made to look and feel like your original tooth. Dental crowns can be made from a variety of materials, such as porcelain, ceramic, resin and metal and each offers varying aesthetic and durability benefits.
If your chip or crack results in the need for a dental crown, rather than a quicker and easier repair using a bonding material or veneer, you will generally require two visits to the dentist. During the first visit, the existing tooth will be ground down and a mold will be made so that the crown can be manufactured in a dental lab. This process can be a bit painful, although with the use of topical anesthetics such as Novacaine, you won’t feel anything while your tooth is being worked on. Then a temporary crown will be attached that will cover the tooth during the time it takes to make the permanent crown. The second visit is quicker and easier and simply requires your dentist to make sure the permanent crown fits properly, and if so, to permanently secure it into place.
To for more information about the options you have to improve the look of chipped teeth, or to schedule an appointment with a dentist in Queens to fix your chipped or cracked teeth, contact Park Dental Care at 718-274-1515.
