Want to know how to fix a chipped tooth? Typically, teeth chip in two main situations. First, it results from blunt force trauma to someone’s mouth.
Alternatively, someone might bite into something too hard. In some cases, people are more vulnerable to chipped enamel because they grind or clench their teeth.
When you chip a tooth, the right treatment depends on the extent of the damage. For tiny slivers, there’s usually an easy fix. With larger portions missing, it often requires a more involved treatment.
How to Treat a Chipped Tooth: Different Treatment Options
As stated, the type of treatment tends to correlate with the size of the chip. So, let’s break these down into three categories.
Small Chips
When you want to know how to fix a chipped tooth with a small piece missing piece, you’re in luck. Oftentimes, people barely notice superficial chips in teeth. In fact, some are barely visible at all.
Still, when you run over the damaged area with your tongue, you feel it. Typically, it feels rough and a little jagged. Luckily, these are easy to fix.
When your visit your dentist, treatment should be quick and painless. In order to repair a small chip, your dentist uses a small buffing tool. With this, they smooth out the rough area.
Generally speaking, this is a safe, easy procedure with no damage to the tooth. Since there’s no damage past the enamel, it usually only requires a superficial treatment.
Often, it only takes a small amount of shaping. After the procedure, some patients feel that a great deal of work went into it. This is because the size of the file only works on a small area at a time. To bring uniformity to your smile, some treatments involve mild shaping in the neighboring teeth.
Afterward, no one’s the wiser and your smile looks beautiful once more.
Medium Chips
In medium damage, there’s more than a sliver missing. However, at least half of the tooth is still intact. In this case, the treatment calls for dental bonding.
Depending on your sensitivity and dental anxiety, it may require some local anesthesia. If you feel dental anxiety, it’s important to communicate with your dentist. At our dental office, we strive to ensure our patients are comfortable at all times.
When you have a preference for numbing, let your dentist know.
First, we start with the same contouring process as a small chip. Next, we clean the surface. This ensures the bonding material takes.
Once we apply the composite, we contour the material to reconstruct your tooth. With a curing light, the material hardens quickly and permanently.
In some cases, the bonding material is difficult to keep in place. Oftentimes, this depends on the size and location of the restoration. Some areas leave restorations more vulnerable than others. As such, they detach at times when there’s too much pressure.
For instance, regular chewing or grinding has the potential to dislodge bonding. In these cases, your dentist may opt for a dental crown instead of bonding.
Large Chips and Tooth Breaks
This is when how to fix a chipped tooth requires a little more work. Whether it’s a large chip or a medium chip repair that won’t stick, your dentist is likely to use a dental crown. With a crown, we place a protective cap over the rest of the tooth. Typically, we use either ceramic or porcelain to maintain the appearance of your smile.
Because these materials are durable, they last for years. Moreover, we customize them to match the rest of your natural teeth. When we replicate their characteristics, it makes the crown less noticeable.
Learn How to Fix a Chipped Tooth with FMS
If you’re wondering how to fix a chipped tooth in Houston, schedule an appointment with our team. As Houston dentists, we strive to ensure our patients are comfortable at all times. Moreover, we want to help you maintain your oral health.
When we repair a chipped tooth, we make it look natural. Trust our team to restore your smile to its former glory! Book an appointment today.
