A bad fall, accident, and eating something hard are some of the major reasons that can lead to a chipped or broken tooth. Despite the fact that enamel happens to be the hardest tissue in the body, it is prone to get damaged due to the aforementioned issues. However, in most cases, it’s the decay that causes the weakening of the enamel thereby, impacting its strength.
No matter what the reason, it’s important to reach out to dental care in Bozeman and get cracked tooth treatment.
Wondering how dentists fix a chipped tooth? Find out everything here:
Dental Veneers
Dental veneers are considered suitable options for chipped front teeth. It is basically a thin shell made of resin composite or porcelain tailored to resemble the natural tooth of the patient. The purpose of dental veneers is to replace the impacted part by covering the entire front of the tooth.
This treatment involves removing 0.3 to 1.2 mm of enamel from the tooth’s surface. Then, the dentist takes the tooth’s impression, which is sent to a dental laboratory. After one or two weeks, the veneer is ready to be placed in the patient’s mouth.
The dentist will initially etch the tooth’s surface with a liquid. They do it to roughen it. Then, a special cement is applied to the veneer and it’s placed on the impacted tooth. They also use a special light for the purpose of activating chemicals in the cement. This quickens the process of hardening.
Dental Filling or Bonding
It is another common treatment to fix a broken teeth. Usually, a filling is recommended by dentists if the patient has only chipped off a minor piece of enamel. In case it’s a front teeth and is visible when the patient smiles, bonding can be preferred. This is a procedure in which the dentist fills the gap using a composite resin. It’s colored similar to the natural teeth so that the patient’s smile isn’t impacted.
It is a simple treatment that can be performed without anesthesia. The dentist, at first, etches the tooth’s surface using a liquid so that the composite reason could stick to it. Then, an adhesive material is applied to the teeth before the resin. Lastly, they use UV light for the purpose of hardening the material.
Dental Cap or Crown
A dental cap or crown becomes a suitable choice if the patient has lost a large part of the teeth. It is also recommended if the tooth has a decay problem.
In this treatment, the dentist grinds the remaining tooth and uses a crown or dental cap to cover it. The dental cap has the same color as that of the natural tooth. Thus, it cannot be easily identified.
Crowns are made of different materials, with porcelain, metal, all-ceramic, and all resin being the most common ones. Each type has its own set of benefits. Some are stronger and more durable, while others resemble natural teeth.
Bear in mind that getting a crown can be a little extensive procedure as it requires two visits to the dentist. During the first visit, the dentist will examine the teeth, its root, and surrounding bone with the help of x-rays.
If there’s no damage caused to the bone or root, they will make room by removing the remaining teeth for a crown. In case, a bigger piece of the teeth is missing, the dentist will first use a filling material in order to create space for the crown. Then, the impression of the impacted and opposite tooth will be taken to make the crown.
Generally, it takes about two to three weeks for the crown to be prepared. Meanwhile, a temporary crown is placed at the site of damage. Once the permanent crown is ready, the temporary crown is removed and replaced by the permanent one. Some dental clinics use advanced tools that allow them to take the impression and make the crown on the same day. Thus, multiple visits are not required.
Apart from the aforementioned, a root canal is another common procedure that the dentist may recommend to fix a broken or chipped tooth. It is, however, important to know how much it cost to repair a chipped tooth so that you can better manage your budget beforehand.