Are Fillings the Ultimate Solution to Prevent a Tooth from Getting Chipped?
Anyone can have a chipped tooth. Even if the enamel surrounding the teeth is strong, its strength has limits. From a gentle bite to a blow to the face to untreated tooth decay, we are all at risk. Fillings do a great job in repairing chipped teeth, but their ultimate treatment will vary on the location and extent of the chip.
If you are fortunate enough, a chipped can be seamlessly fixed. When you chip a tooth, it is important that you get in touch with your dentist immediately. The tooth is now more vulnerable and can be further damaged or become infected if nothing is done to fix it at the soonest possible time. The tooth and surrounding gums can be sore; dull it some painkillers.
Dental Filling or Bonding
If a small piece of the tooth is chipped, it can be quickly and easily fixed with filling. For damage done on the front teeth, your dentist might suggest that you get bonding. This procedure uses a composite resin that is made to match your tooth color. The end result? A fixed tooth that looks like it was not chipped at all.
Dental Crown
A bigger chip on the tooth requires the application of a new top on it, which is called a crown. This is also applicable for a tooth that has a lot of decay. Getting a crown mostly takes a few dentist visits and requires more than just fixing what is broken. Your dentist will first take x-rays to see the extent of the damage before an impression of the tooth is made.
To ensure that the new crown will perfectly fit the old tooth, an impression of the tooth is made using the putty-like material. This impression is sent to the lab and will serve as the technician’s guide to make the crown. In the meantime, your dentist might put a temporary crown until the fitted one is finished.
Dental Veneers
Damage to the front teeth is very crucial. A dental veneer can make a chipped front tooth look like new. A dental veneer is a thin shell covering the whole front part of the tooth, thus filling in the chipped part. To install veneers, the dentist removes some of the existing enamel to roughen it up and allow the veneer to properly stick onto the tooth.
Root Canal Therapy
For chips that have reached or exposed the pulp at the center of the tooth, you will need to get root canal therapy. Root canal sounds like a very scary word, but it is actually no more painful than getting a cavity filled. You can request your dentist to give you anesthesia so you can have a virtually painless procedure.
Whatever accident you have gone through to get a chip in your teeth, know that there are ways to fix it almost seamlessly. If you chip a tooth, contact your dentist as soon as you can. The sooner that you can get your tooth checked out and fixed, the less you are likely to deal with possible complications that can compromise your dental health.
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