Restore Your Smile with Cosmetic Treatments for Chipped Teeth

Restore Your Smile with Cosmetic Treatments for Chipped Teeth

Chipped teeth are a common dental injury that can affect the health and appearance of your smile. It usually happens quickly and leaves a sharp or jagged edge on your tooth. In some cases, you may even have a noticeable gap between your teeth. If the chip or break is significant, it can cause tooth sensitivity, decay, and an increased risk of infection.

Fortunately, there are several ways to treat chipped teeth, restore your smile, and improve dental function. Our Henderson and Las Vegas cosmetic dentists share what you need to know about chipped teeth and ways to correct the damage.

Common Causes of Chipped Teeth

There are many reasons why a patient might sustain a chipped tooth. Understanding these common causes can help you avoid future damage and get the treatment you need if it does happen. A small fragment of your tooth may break off when:

●       There is a hard impact to your mouth from a fall or accident

●       You are injured during contact sports or recreational activities

●       You bite down on hard food, such as nuts and hard candy

●       You use your teeth as tools to open packages

●       You have a habit of chewing on hard objects

●       You have weak tooth enamel from poor oral hygiene

●       You tend to grind or clench your teeth (bruxism)

Dental Health Risks of Chipped or Broken Teeth

In addition to aesthetic damage, chipped teeth may pose a risk to your overall dental health. Seeking treatment for a chipped or broken tooth can help you avoid these issues:

●       Increased chance of developing tooth decay

●       Compromised tooth structure, leading to further breaks and damage

●       Increased sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures

●       The possibility of bacterial infection in the tooth pulp and nerves

●       In severe cases, tooth loss and related gum and jawbone conditions

RELATED: Cosmetic Dentistry Options to Replace Missing Teeth

Treatment Options for a Chipped Tooth

While a sudden chipped tooth can be alarming, there are many ways a skilled dentist can help. Here are effective treatments to correct chipped teeth and get your dental health back on track.

1. Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is a popular treatment for cracked or chipped teeth. It involves the application of a tooth-colored composite resin to the damaged area and reshaping the material to restore the tooth. It can be molded to blend seamlessly with your natural teeth, mimicking the color and luminosity of your smile.

Because composite bonding is a non-invasive treatment, it does not require surgery, removal of tooth enamel, or lengthy recovery periods. It is also a quick and affordable option that significantly improves your smile’s appearance. However, it may not be the right treatment for severe tooth chips or fractures.

2. Porcelain Veneers

Another cosmetic dentistry service that can treat chipped teeth is porcelain veneers. While dental veneers are a good option for many aesthetic issues, they are the ideal solution for chips, breaks, cracks, and uneven teeth. The thin piece of natural-looking porcelain is applied directly over the front of the tooth with a durable dental cement, covering up imperfections.

Porcelain veneers offer an instant transformation to your smile, with a natural resistance to staining and plaque buildup. With proper care and oral hygiene, veneers can help keep your smile looking radiant while supporting a healthier mouth. This treatment is good for chipped front teeth that are highly visible when smiling.

RELATED: 9 Porcelain Veneer Aftercare Tips to Protect Your New Smile

3. Dental Filling

Depending on where the chipped or broken tooth is located in your mouth, a dental filling may be the best treatment. If a piece of a molar breaks off, a durable dental filling is used to fill gaps and cracks and restore the tooth, protecting it from further damage.

Composite dental fillings are molded to the smile’s natural shape and bite. Once the filling is the right shape for the tooth, the dentist will use a special curing light to harden the material. This option works to rebuild the tooth’s structure and surface, but it may not be sufficient for more extensive breaks.

4. Root Canal

In some cases of a broken tooth, the fracture is deep enough to affect the sensitive dental pulp and nerves inside the tooth’s roots. It may allow bacteria to enter the tooth and infect the inner tissue, causing pain, swelling, and other issues.

When this happens, a root canal procedure may be necessary to clear the infection and save the tooth. During a root canal, the infected tooth is opened to remove the damaged pulp, blood vessels, and nerves from inside the tooth. The canals are then rinsed and disinfected with a special solution that kills bacteria. After the tooth is thoroughly cleaned, the dentist fills the canals with a gutta-percha material.

5. Dental Crown

A dental crown is a type of dental restoration designed to completely cover or shield a vulnerable tooth, including a broken or chipped tooth. The customized crown adds a protective barrier, improves dental functionality, and restores your smile. If a dental filling or bonding is not enough to repair a broken tooth, a dentist may recommend a dental crown.

Crowns are also used after root canal treatments and other procedures that leave a tooth exposed. Patients who undergo a root canal after chipping a tooth often need a dental crown to cover the tooth and prevent further breaks.

RELATED: 8 Tips to Help You Choose the Right Cosmetic Dentist

Connect With a Las Vegas Cosmetic Dentist Today!

At Las Vegas Aesthetic Dentistry, our skilled team can treat cosmetic issues, including chipped teeth, with high-quality services in our Henderson dental office. We offer porcelain veneers, composite bonding, dental crowns, and other treatments to transform your smile, improve oral health, and boost your confidence.

If you have a chipped tooth, contact our office today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Tati and our aesthetic dentistry team. We will assess the damage and create a treatment plan to restore your smile.