What Can be Done About a Chipped Tooth?

A chipped tooth can be fixed easily today. In Medina, OH, there are a number of options that are available, such as dental bonding and porcelain veneers. Dental bonding is not expensive and fast, while porcelain veneers are more durable, long-lasting, and offer additional benefits. All of the options covered in this article are common and so your dentist’s office will likely use these practices.

How to Tell if You Have a Chipped Tooth

Sometimes it can be hard to tell if you actually have a chipped tooth. Unless the chip is large and it’s one of your front teeth, you may not even realize that you have a chipped tooth. One telltale sign is persistent raw pain in the tooth that doesn’t go away after a day or two. Check in the mirror to see if you notice any irregularities or missing parts of the tooth. Be sure to see your dentist in Medina, OH if you see anything that even faintly resembles a chip. A chipped tooth doesn’t have to be repaired as an emergency, but you don’t want to wait very long, because the tooth will be vulnerable to bacteria.

Solutions For a Chipped Tooth

One of the first options your Medina dentist may offer is repairing the chipped tooth with dental bonding. Dental bonding involves applying a resin material to the crack or chipped area of the tooth and shining a special laser light over the area to harden and seal the coating. Dental bonding is inexpensive and fast, making it the preferred route for repairing a chipped tooth. The procedure takes about an hour to complete if it’s for one chipped tooth. Dental bonding doesn’t even require anesthesia because it’s non-invasive and pain-free.

If the chip is large and visible when you smile, you might also consider a porcelain veneer. Porcelain veneers are thin layers of composite resin and porcelain that are bonded to the front of teeth. Porcelain veneers have the advantage of being stronger than dental bonding. Porcelain veneers are custom made to fit the patient’s damaged tooth and last for years. The whole procedure usually takes two trips to the dentist.

A chipped tooth doesn’t have to be a problem. Today’s dental treatments offer a lot of different options for chipped teeth. Contact your dentist in Medina for advice about treating your chipped tooth.