Chipped teeth are a common problem we see in our Beverly Hills office. The damage can be caused by accidents, some people grind their teeth so severely they cause breakage and others try to use their teeth as tools!
How we repair the damage depends on factors such as the size and location of the chip, which tooth is chipped and the overall oral health of the patient. Options for repairing a chip include bonding and dental veneers. For a tooth that is badly chipped or cracked a full dental crown may be needed.
If you have damaged a tooth that is easily seen when you smile, please make sure that your dentist has received extensive training in cosmetic dentistry so that your smile will be as beautiful after the restoration as it was before the repair – maybe even better!
Smaller chips can be reparied using dental bonding. During this procedure a tooth colored restoration material is bonded to the damaged surface and carefully sculpted to look just like your original tooth. The technique has some advantages but it is also subject to staining and may not last as long as a dental veneer.
Dental veneers are thin pieces of ceramic material that are created in a dental lab. They are matched to your tooth color and provide a very lifelike appearance. The dental veneers are bonded to your natural teeth and allow for the correction of chipped, discolored or misshapen teeth. A dental crown may be needed if the damage to the tooth is too severe to be corrected with the other alternatives.
If you have chipped a tooth please contact Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist Dr. David Frey at 310-276-4537 to discuss your treatment options. Please don’t delay, small chips can easily become larger, and the damage to the tooth more extensive over time.
