According to researchers, dental trauma affects about 4.5% of the global population. Dental trauma, in turn, is any impact injury to the teeth or the soft tissues of the mouth.
A perfect example of such injuries is a chipped tooth.
It’s vital to get a chipped tooth fixed as soon as possible as it can cause more severe complications. For example, the damage can make the tooth more susceptible to decay and infections.
Fortunately, there are several ways on how to fix a chipped tooth. We rounded up the top ones below, so be sure to read on.
Tooth Bonding
Most dental bonding materials consist of composite resin that mimics natural teeth color. These are flexible while uncured, so they are easy to mold into various sizes and shapes. That makes them a great option for fixing tiny tooth chips and cracks.
Dental bonding is one of the cheapest ways to fix a chipped tooth as it doesn’t require much preparation. The dentist only has to clean the tooth surface and remove debris from the affected tooth. The dentist then places and cures the bonding material onto the chipped area.
After a few minutes, the materials harden and attach to the rest of the teeth.
Dental Veneers
Dental veneers are shell-like materials bonded to the front surface of the teeth. These tooth-colored fixtures can either consist of composite resin or porcelain materials. Composite veneers cost less than porcelain, but the latter can last longer, up to 20 years or more.
Veneers are some of the best ways to fix a chipped tooth, so long as the damage is only minor. As they go on the visible surface of the teeth, they’re also great in covering up discolored or stained teeth.
Do note that with veneers, the dentist needs to shave away a tiny portion of the tooth. This process helps ensure that the shell won’t make the tooth too bulky.
Dental Crowns
Dental crowns, also known as “tooth caps,” cover the entire teeth instead of only the front area. Like veneers, they can also consist of tooth-colored materials like composite or porcelain. A more modern option, in the form of zirconia (an extremely durable metal), is now also available.
Dental crowns provide better coverage for larger tooth chips, cracks, or even breakages. They’re thicker than veneers, too, so they’re better at reinforcing weakened teeth.
Just like with veneers, crown placement also involves tooth reduction. However, your dentist would remove more of the tooth, seeing as crowns are thicker.
Dental Implants
As explained by Dr. Suzanne Caudry, implants can replace badly damaged teeth. These include chipped teeth that have already developed severe decay. In such cases, the damaged teeth can cause major infections, so they may already be up for extraction.
After removing the diseased teeth, implants can then serve as their replacement. Implants not only provide natural-looking teeth; they also function like natural teeth. For example, they stimulate the jawbone, keep it healthy, and prevent it from resorbing.
Let Your Dentist Educate You on How To Fix a Chipped Tooth
As you can see, there are at least four ways on how to fix a chipped tooth, the professional way. The most important thing is to call your dentist right away, as that chip can get bigger and cause more damage. The sooner you see an oral healthcare expert, the sooner you can get your tooth fixed and patched up.
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