If you suddenly find that you bit down on something that was too hard or you have been involved in an accident and chipped a tooth, you might wonder what your options are. Will the tooth need to be pulled? Are you stuck with fake teeth for the rest of your life? These are all thoughts that go through many people’s minds. The good news is that you are not stuck with artificial teeth; today there are many options to help restore the look of a chipped tooth without any major procedures taking place.
Dental Filling
If your cracked tooth is in the rear portion of your mouth and is minor, as can sometimes occur when you chew on something that was not meant to be chewed on (ice, pencils), a dental filling can sometimes be applied. This is not your traditional amalgam (silver) filling; it is a tooth colored filling that blends in with the rest of your mouth. The structure of your tooth is then replenished and you are able to keep your natural teeth.
Dental Bonding
If the chipped tooth happens to be a front tooth, dental bonding might be an option for you. This virtually painless procedure simply requires removing a very small fraction of your enamel and adhering a bonding to it. The bonding is shaped to look just like your surrounding teeth and has the same color. This helps to strengthen the structure of your tooth while enhancing its appearance, making it look as if the chip was never there. Once the appropriate shape is created, the dental bonding is hardened with an ultraviolet ray. This makes your tooth look like new!
Dental Crowns
If the chip is excessive and the tooth cannot be saved with a simple filling or dental bonding, a dental crown might be necessary. This is a more invasive procedure, but it helps to save your natural tooth. This allows you to retain your natural tooth’s roots, while having an artificial tooth at the crown. The benefit to the dental crown is the fact that your jawbone still gets the stimulation of your natural tooth’s roots, enabling the bone to go through its natural cycle of dying and growing again without the risk of getting that sunken in look. The dental crown takes on the same appearance as your surrounding teeth, making it unnoticeable that you ever had a problem at all.
