If you are Googling ‘how to fix a chipped tooth’, it’s probably because you’ve found yourself in that unfortunate position. Although tooth enamel is one of the most resilient materials in the body, a cracked or chipped tooth is commonplace.
Did you know, for example, that tooth enamel is even more robust than bone?
Yet, like bone, tooth enamel can chip or crack when placed under excess force or when it receives a blow. So if you’re looking for answers on how to fix a chipped tooth, then you’re probably not alone.
However, fear not because, in this post, we’re going to discuss your chipped tooth options such as dental crowns, dental bonding, and dental veneers and how a dentist can help.
Before we do, let’s talk about whether you need to see a dentist when you experience a chipped tooth.
Most people will have one or two tiny chips on the surface of their teeth as chipped tooth problems are common. They often occur with everyday activities such as eating or (in the case of nocturnal teeth grinding) while sleeping. Typically these chips are too small to notice and don’t cause any initial problems. Often, they go ignored.
Alternatively, if the injury to the tooth is significant – as in a noticeable chip or crack, then you will need to see a dentist.
When a tooth is significantly cracked or chipped, it can be an opening for bacteria to enter. Aside from triggering tooth decay or infection, a chipped tooth can hurt!
Your dentist has the skills and the knowledge to fix the tooth while eradicating any infection. But in doing so, they can also get you out of pain.
Three key ways a dentist can fix a chipped tooth
- Dental bonding
- Dental veneers
- Dental crowns
There is a fourth option to be used as a last resort which we’ll come to later. In the meantime, however, let’s focus on these pivotal treatments.
Firstly, dental bonding
If the tooth chip or crack is relatively small or hairline, the dentist will use a technique known as dental bonding.
Dental bonding uses a tooth-coloured composite resin that’s applied to the surface of the crack or chip. Composite resin is the same material used in white fillings.
Once applied to the surface, the tooth-coloured material fills in the cracks. It’s then hardened with activating light. The result is something that resembles a blemish-free tooth surface. Dental bonding is quick, easy and effective.
Dental veneers
Another way to fix a chipped tooth is to hide it cosmetically. Dental veneers do precisely this. Veneers are made from porcelain and cover the whole front surface of the tooth.
Porcelain veneers are custom-made either in a dental lab or are 3D milled in the dental clinic. They usually take several visits to fit because they are an exact match for your teeth. Once in position, however, veneers can transform a smile while covering a multitude of sins.
Dental Crowns
The final way that dentists can fix a chipped tooth is through the use of dental crowns. Dental crowns, otherwise known as ‘caps’, are designed to cover the whole tooth – front and back. Made from several materials, they include metal, porcelain, ceramic and gold. Some dental crowns even combine materials – porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) are one such example.
Ultimately, patients will have a choice of dental crowns dependent upon
- The location in the mouth
- Aesthetic preferences
- Bio-compatibility
- Budget
Dental crowns are the preferred treatment when the chipped tooth is noticeable and provide the utmost protection for the damaged tooth underneath.
In some cases, a badly chipped or cracked tooth can be a way of letting bacteria into the inner tooth. When bacteria enter the tooth, they can attack the root canals, housing the tooth nerves. Inevitably the tooth is destroyed from the inside out.
The tooth undergoes a process known as endodontic therapy (root canal treatment). During the procedure, the dentist removes any bacteria from the chambers. The canals are flushed out and back-filled with a cement-like material known as gutta-percha. Finally, the dentist seals the canals to prevent further bacteria from entering.
Once the process is complete, the dentist will fit the damaged tooth with a dental crown. While root canal treatment saves the tooth from extraction, dental crowns protect teeth for the long term.
When fixing a chipped, cracked, or damaged tooth with a crown, the tooth needs reshaping. Reshaping occurs so that the dental crown fits snugly over the tooth without becoming noticeable when you speak or smile.
With this in mind, once you have decided to go down the route of having dental crowns fitted, this process is irreversible.
How to fix a chipped tooth – Bonus option
There is a final option when we talk about fixing a chipped tooth that involves dental implants.
Dental implants are used as a last resort when the tooth is uneconomical to repair and therefore needs extracting.
Once tooth extraction is complete, a dental implant is anchored directly into the jaw bone of the missing tooth gap. Over time, the metal implant post fuses with the remaining bone tissue and eventually becomes part of the mouth. The result is a fully-restored permanent tooth.
Once the structure has fully stabilised, the dentist will place a permanent dental crown over the implant to complete the look.
How to fix a chipped tooth – What you need to know at a glance
- Don’t ignore a chipped tooth problem
- Contact your dentist right away
- They will examine you and discuss your options
- You will leave pain free and, at the very least, with a temporary fix solution.
If you would like to find out more about chipped tooth repair or need emergency dental assistance, talk to the team at No Gaps Dental.
With over 15 convenient locations spread throughout the Sydney Metro area, we set aside time in our schedule for dental emergencies. Moreover, our teams use the latest treatments and technology, including CEREC dental crowns, for your convenience.
Talk to a No Gaps Dentist of your choice today. Call us on (02) 8806 0227 today.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks.