How to Fix A Chipped Tooth: OKC Dental Restorations
A chipped tooth may cause you to feel self-conscious about your smile, but that isn’t the worst of it. Chipped teeth are troublesome because their sharp edges can cut into your tongue, cheeks, or lips. Chipped teeth are also vulnerable and prone to further fractures. For chipped tooth repair in Oklahoma City, contact Saxon Dentistry.
Assessing The Damage
Whether you simply bit down on something incorrectly or you were elbowed during a soccer game, there may be other injuries associated with chipped teeth. Before attempting a chipped tooth repair of the fractured enamel, Dr. Saxon will want to ensure that everything appears stable and that any bleeding is under control.
Then, Dr. Saxon will examine any anatomical damage to a tooth. Chipped teeth range in size from small slivers of fractured enamel to large injuries involving the nerve inside the tooth. The extent of the damage will be the deciding factor in how to repair your smile.
Treatment for Chipped Teeth
If you have a chipped tooth, our dentist can get it fixed right away with one of these solutions:
Dental Crowns – Covering the break with a dental crown is the best option for fairly large areas of damage, especially if there is a root canal involved. Otherwise, the tooth will just continue to chip apart. In contrast to veneers, which only cover the front of the tooth, dental crowns cover and protect the entire tooth.
Dental Bonding – Bonding is a common technique for repairing chipped teeth that have minor damage. To fill in the broken area, our OKC dentist can patch or bond a small bit of tooth-colored filling material to your tooth. This restorative method will produce immediate results, but it will probably only last for a few years at a time before needing to be touched up.
Dental Veneers – When bonding is not an option, or when the chip is slightly larger than what bonding can repair, a porcelain veneer can provide dramatic results. Veneers serve a strictly cosmetic purpose. They simply change the appearance of the tooth by covering the front and biting edge. Veneers are purely cosmetic in nature, but they perform the same functions as if your tooth had not been chipped.
Inlays or Onlays – If you have a molar with moderate structural damage, you may require an onlay or inlay. These are strong lab-made fillings that are constructed outside of your mouth and then tailored to fit to the broken section of your teeth like puzzle pieces.
Do You Have a Chipped Tooth?
When it comes to repairing your chipped teeth, you may eligible for more than one option. Call Saxon Dentistry today for a consultation that includes a brief x-ray and an exam. Dr. Saxon will be happy to walk you through the best treatments for your situation.
