Chipped Tooth Repair: What to Expect

Nearly 1 in 10 dental patients needing help with a broken tooth, dentists have taken to blaming fancy popcorn on the rise in tooth injuries. No matter what the reason for the rise in broken or chipped teeth, they can be a severe problem. A chipped tooth might seem minor but could belie other tooth trauma.

Dental issues can cause you to lose confidence when seeking a job, going on dates, or meeting new people. While some believe that most dental issues are purely cosmetic, they’re actually tied to your overall health. The number of healthy foods you eat can be shown through the strength of your teeth and gums.

If you’ve recently suffered a chipped tooth, you should see a dentist as soon as possible to minimize potential damage. Here are 5 potential fixes for your broken tooth.

1. Bonding

Composite bonding is a simple, quick, and cost-effective way of repairing teeth. Bonding can fix a gap, misshapen teeth, decayed, discoloured, and even a chipped tooth. Bonding is a durable solution to dental issues and can last for ten years.

If going to the dentist causes you anxiety, you should know that bonding is a minimally invasive and low-discomfort solution. You won’t need anesthesia during the bonding process unless it’s helping deal with cavities.

Your dentist will roughen your tooth and then apply a little bit of conditioning liquid. They will apply and mould putty to fix the chipped tooth. After the bond has dried between the putty and the tooth, it will be polished and shaped down to match the rest of your smile.

You could be in and out of your dentist quickly, having your smile and your bite put back the way they were.

2. Veneers

A veneer is by definition a cover for your tooth. A porcelain veneer is the most common and best-looking solution for fixing a chipped tooth. There are several veneer options available.

Veneers are bonded to the front of the tooth and will transform the overall appearance of the front of your teeth. If you care for your veneers, they can last around 30 years without needing to be replaced.

Veneers can be placed on one tooth or many. This can be a great option if you want to feel more confident in your teeth. For people who grind their teeth, veneers aren’t a good option for a chipped tooth as you could grind them down or break them.

When dentists prepared your teeth for veneers, they gently remove some of the structure of your teeth so that they don’t look too bulky. They will take impressions to help shape the veneer. If you want to make changes to the shape or colour, this is the time to do it.

In the meantime, temporary veneers are applied. Then later your permanent veneer will be bonded to your tooth.

3. A Crown

Depending on the severity of the chip or if there’s pain when you chew, drink, or eat certain foods, it might be necessary to get a crown. Crowns cover your tooth and help you from losing your tooth.

A damaged tooth might not be able to withstand the pressure of chewing unless it’s replaced with a crown.

First, the dentist removes part of the tooth structure. Then they take impressions that are sent to a lab to fit the new tooth. A temporary one is usually placed in the interim.

When your permanent tooth is ready, it gets cemented to whatever is left of your tooth structure and should stay in place for many decades to come.

4. A Root Canal

If the chipped tooth has turned into a cracked tooth or has broken down to the root or the pulp, you might need to have it completely removed. You’ll have to get a root canal and then a crown installed to keep the crack from getting worse.

A root canal requires the clearing out of decayed tooth material and then removing the nerve. You’ll no longer have a nerve at the root of your tooth.

This can be a painful procedure but when done correctly, the only pain you’ll feel is the pinprick of anesthesia.

If the chip or crack has lead to a toothache, sensitivity, or swelling, it might be time for a root canal. You could run the risk of getting an infection, having an abscess, bone issues, or a much more serious infection.

Once x-rays are taken, your dentist can determine the course of action. They will give you a numbing agent to lower discomfort and then drill into the tooth to remove pulp and the nerve.

The tooth is then sealed to prevent infection and if it’s the case, a crown is placed over the top of it.

5. A Dental Implant

When a chip leads to a crack that goes under your gum line, there are limited options for you. The tooth won’t be able to be saved and so it will have to be extracted.

Then you will be fitted with an implant to replace the missing tooth.

Dental implants will help protect your bite. When teeth are missing, teeth in that row could start to shift around. If your bottom tooth is missing, your top tooth might start to feel the pull of gravity over time.

Dental implants require that screw is fitted into your jaw. That is the new root of your new tooth. After impressions are taken, a new tooth is created and then the tooth is fit into that screw.

Your implant is permanent and a crack in your implant won’t be as severe as it was for your tooth.

A Chipped Tooth Fixed Fast Saves Money

The sooner you treat a broken tooth, the less you’ll have to pay for treatment. Chips in teeth can be symptomatic of a fundamental structural issue. When they’re not, a quick bond can keep the tooth from remaining vulnerable.

If you want to know some of the basics of dental care, check out our guide for how to brush right every time.