How does a dentist fix a chipped tooth?
Treatment for a cracked or chipped tooth will depend on the extent of the damage. If just a tiny piece of enamel has broken off, then it’s likely that your dentist will repair it with dental bonding.
It’s a simple process whereby the dentist directly shapes a layer of composite resin onto the affected tooth and hardens it with a high-intensity light. The flaw has disappeared, and the chipped tooth looks as good as new.
However, dental veneers are the best method to repair chipped teeth if the damage is more severe. Read on to find out more about this cosmetic procedure.
How to fix a chipped tooth with dental veneers?
Dental veneers are thin covers for the front surface of the teeth. As well as concealing cracks and chips, dentists recommend dental veneers for teeth that are:
- Mildly misaligned
- Too big or too small
- Abnormally shaped
- Badly stained
- Have gaps between the teeth
Different types of dental veneers
There are two types of dental veneers – composite and porcelain. While essentially they produce the same results, porcelain veneers are the preferred choice of many looking to cover chipped or cracked teeth because they look so natural and have a similar translucency to tooth enamel.
Porcelain veneers are custom-made for each individual tooth to ensure a perfect fit, shape, size, and colour.
Unlike composite dental veneers, porcelain veneers require more than one visit. A thin layer of tooth enamel is usually removed to ensure that your porcelain veneers sit flush within the smile. The dentist then takes a digital impression of your teeth for the custom porcelain veneers to be created in a specialist dental lab.
What about the benefits of dental veneers?
Veneers are strong and durable, and porcelain veneers can last up to 15 years before they need replacement. Even better, porcelain veneers are stain-resistant, so they remain looking good for longer. Composite dental veneers do tend to stain, so like your natural teeth, it’s important to brush and floss them regularly and visit your dentist for a professional clean twice a year.
So now you know how to fix a chipped tooth, there’s no point in delaying treatment. Send us a text message now to book your FREE consultation with the experienced team at Boutique Dental Care, and put your best smile forward.