Please be informed that we’ll be closed on the 24th to 27th and 31st of December and on the 1st to 2nd of January. We’ll be back on the 3rd of January. Merry Christmas and have a happy New Year!

Nothing can make you lose confidence in your smile faster than a chipped tooth. If you’re wondering, ‘how can you repair chipped teeth?’, you’re in the right place! This post will go over five ways to fix a chipped tooth.

Why Do Teeth Chip?

Did you know that the enamel covering the teeth is the strongest tissue in the human body? Despite that impressive fact, it can still break, crack, or chip! Whether you damaged your teeth playing baseball, wrestling with your brother, drinking from a glass bottle, or biting forcefully into something hard, there are thousands of reasons why teeth chip. The food we eat also can cause our teeth to chip. Things like chips, hard sweets, coffee, ice, soft drinks and alcohol are some foods that damage teeth.

Cavities contribute to chipped teeth because they weaken the tooth structure,  making them much easier to break when you are merely chewing on something hard, like French bread.

How to Repair Chipped Teeth

Chipped tooth repair depends on your level of damage. For example, if only a tiny bit of enamel breaks, you can probably get your chip fixed in one quick visit to your dentist’s office. But, badly damaged or broken teeth require more complex responses.

Dental Bonding 

Dental bonding repairs chips, cracks, discolouration, and decay using a putty-like resin that can be moulded over the chip. This procedure can usually be done without the use of anaesthesia and is an easy process for minor damage.

Crowns

Teeth that are split or broken, especially if it is painful to eat and/or drink are best treated with crowns — a very common treatment. Crowns are caps that cover the teeth, protecting them and improving their appearance while also acting as a strong covering for the tooth. Crowns are used to prevent patients from losing their teeth because, without the crown, damaged teeth cannot withstand the pressure from chewing.

Veneers

Veneers cover the natural teeth and are usually made out of porcelain to look beautiful and realistic. The veneer gets bonded to the front of the natural tooth, instantly transforming your smile. If cared for properly, veneers can last for up to 30 years!

Root Canal

When cracks in the teeth extend into the nerve (dental pulp), root canals are needed to treat the tooth. Once a root canal is complete and healed, crowns can be put on to protect the crack from growing. Decayed tooth matter is cleaned out during a root canal treatment, with the remaining cavity filled with amalgam or composite material.

Root Canals are no longer the horrific procedures they once were. With new techniques and medications, you have very little to be anxious about. However, please talk to us about our sedative options if you are particularly concerned.

Dental Implant

It may be necessary to extract a broken tooth entirely. In that case, dental implants can be used to replace the natural tooth. The best part about dental implants is that they can act as the tooth’s new root and are secured in the jawbone to fit comfortably and last long.

Caring for a Chipped Tooth

If your tooth is chipped or broken, you must call your dentist ASAP. Here’s how to properly care for a chipped or broken tooth:

  • If the chip has just happened and has caused bleeding, apply pressure to the area to stop the flow. Then, use a cold compress to reduce swelling.
  • Take over-the-counter pain relievers like Panadol or Nurofen to deal with pain.
  • Use saltwater or a mouth rinse to rinse your mouth.
  • Avoid eating with that side of the mouth or eating at all if your appointment is soon.

Are your teeth chipped? Dana Street Dental can help. Our knowledgeable and caring staff will be able to present you with the best option for repair or replacement with the least amount of pain. Contact us today to learn more.

Read More:

Related Posts

Dana Street Dental
What are you looking for?