Why spend money on Chipped tooth repair?

Whether you tried to bite directly into the world’s hardest candy, took a hockey put to the face, or even toppled down a flight of stairs, it seems you’re here because you ended up with a chipped tooth. While your smile may not be what it’s all cracked up to be at the moment, you will have multiple options to fix or repair your chipped tooth. It’s important to note that repairing your chipped tooth will save you pain, time, and future issues requiring more appointments in the future. In the meantime, while you wait to see your dentist, here are some things you can do—wash the area surrounding the chipped tooth with mouthwash, and make sure no small pieces that could possibly fall are still attached, or loose in your mouth where you could bite down on or swallow them. Feel free to use over-the-counter pain medication or ice for any pain or sensitivity in the area. 

How to fix a chipped tooth

Veneers – Veneers are a great option for fixing a chipped tooth when the chip is on the larger side. Veneers are porcelain covers that are placed over the affected tooth. Luckily for you, veneers look super realistic so it would be pretty hard for anyone to tell that you have a new tooth (or teeth). A big plus is how long they last, which can be up to 20 years!

Crowns – Similar to veneers as they are also made out of porcelain, crowns surround your chipped tooth helping visually cover your chip and physically covering it. This protects the tooth from being damaged further and covers any nerves that have been exposed from the area of your chipped tooth. 

Bonding – Bonding is the preferred method for smaller chips. It’s a simple method of using resin to make a mold of the chipped area of your tooth. Then using the mold they can fill in the chipped area to create a natural look so your smile will be good as new. This will be the quickest and most affordable method.

Dental implants – This is the best option for the most severe chips and breaks. A procedure for when little to no tooth remains in your gum. Your dentist would remove the remains of your damaged tooth and then give you time to heal. Once healed a metal post will be inserted in your jawbone through the gum, so your dentist can attach a tooth implant to the post. The implant will feel and look like a real tooth and will also last a lifetime.  Since this is an advanced procedure that requires a healing period, this will be the most time-consuming method for repairing a chipped tooth. 

Why it’s important to fix or repair a chipped tooth 

Looks aside, in most cases it’s important to get a chipped tooth repaired. A chipped tooth is more susceptible to decay, further damage, and other issues in the future. Enamel that protects your teeth can crack and wear off easier due to the chip. In this case, you would be more likely to get cavities. It’s also important to protect the never inside of your tooth. A big chip could affect the function of the nerve inside your tooth (spoiler alert, this hurts a lot!) and may lead to you opting for a root canal. Simply put, it could be a mess for your dental hygiene if you don’t get your chipped tooth repaired