The enamel covering the teeth is the toughest, most mineralized tissue in the body. It is supposed to withstand the daily wear and tear brought about by chewing on tough foodstuff. However, just like any part of the body, the enamel also has its limits. Certain incidents, such as a fall or taking a blow to one’s face, and bad habits like chewing on ice and biting on particularly hard objects can cause the teeth to break or chip.
Chipping a tooth can be a distressing experience. In addition to the initial pain brought about by the injury, a damaged tooth can become infected and its jagged end may also end up hurting the inside of one’s mouth. Later on, these immediate concerns will be replaced by the embarrassment of having an otherwise perfect smile marred by a single broken tooth.
Depending on the extent and cause of the chipping, your dentist can recommend the following to restore your smile to its former glory.
- Dental filling
A small chip will only require a filling but if the damage is visible, your dentist may opt to do a process called bonding. Bonding requires etching on the surface of the tooth and applying adhesive and bonding material to the roughened surface. Once the mixture has been shaped to the contour of the tooth, UV light will then be used to harden the bonding material.
- Dental caps
Dental caps are preferred if a large part of the tooth has been chipped, or if the tooth has cavities. To attach a dental cap or crown, the dentist will first file away or grind the remaining part of the tooth then cover it with a tooth-shaped crown made of metal, porcelain, resin, or ceramic. It typically takes 2 visits to attach a crown. The first is dedicated to checking the roots of the tooth, making an impression of the tooth, and filing away the tooth to make space for the crown. The second visit is spent on removing the temporary crown and attaching the permanent one.
- Porcelain veneers
Considered the pinnacle of cosmetic dentistry, porcelain veneers can make a chipped tooth look whole again. Like dental caps, it takes 2 visits to the dentist to attach porcelain veneers. The first visit is for making an impression of the tooth, and the second is for cementing the veneer into place using special cement.
Our cosmetic dentistry clinic in Beverly Hills, California offers expert treatments to restore and upgrade your smile. For more information on how we can help you have a perfect white smile, please give us a call at 310.276.4537.
