Have You Cracked a Smile Lately? 4 Ways to Fix a Chipped Tooth Fast
Every time you chew food these days, you feel pain. On top of this, your favorite cup of morning joe now suddenly gives you a toothache. It doesn’t take you long to discover that your toothache’s root cause — pardon the pun — is a chip in your pearly white.
So, why does something so small as a chip in your tooth cause so much pain? Because your tooth’s outer layer — white enamel — keeps your tooth’s inner pulp protected from injury and bacteria. If you end up chipping the tooth, you make it more vulnerable to infection.
Unfortunately, there’s no home remedy to fix a chipped tooth. For this reason, it’s critical that you get to your dentist right away to discuss the options for restoring your smile and preventing further damage.
Here’s a rundown on four ways to fix a chipped tooth fast.
Let’s get started!
1. Fix a Chipped Tooth with Veneers
If you’ve chipped your front tooth, your dentist may recommend that you get a veneer on it. Veneers are thin, custom-made shells designed to fit comfortably on your teeth’s front areas.
To place a veneer, your dentist will file down some of the enamel on your chipped tooth so that there will be enough room for your veneer. The dentist will then create a mold of the tooth, and a lab will use it to produce a veneer for you. What’s great about the veneer is that it will function and look like your natural tooth.
2. Bonding
This is another helpful solution for fixing a chipped front tooth.
With this method, a dentist will prepare your tooth’s surface and apply bonding material to it. Then, the dentist will shape and smooth the material to make it look as natural as possible.
An ultraviolet light device will then be used to cure the material. Like a veneer, the bonding material should match your tooth’s shape and shade.
3. Crown
Let’s say that you’ve chipped one of your molar teeth. Your dentist might recommend a crown — a tooth-shaped cap — to cover it.
During your crown procedure, your dentist will file down some of your teeth to create ample room for the crown. Then, he or she will create a mold of the tooth and have the lab create a crown from it. Your crown will look and operate like a natural tooth.
4. Root Canal
Perhaps your tooth’s chip is so large that the tooth’s pulp — the area containing the nerve — is exposed. In this situation, a root canal procedure is necessary.
A root canal is where a doctor drills a hole into the tooth, takes out the pulp and fills the canal with a latex material. Then, a crown is placed on top of the area to strengthen and protect it.
How We Can Help
We have developed a strong reputation in the San Diego area for performing the abovementioned cosmetic/general dentistry procedures, along with a number of other dental procedures.
For example, we also offer teeth whitening and can help you to straighten your teeth with dental braces as well.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you to fix a chipped tooth and keep you smiling with confidence in the years ahead.