In many cases, a chipped tooth is only a minor aesthetic concern that can be easily fixed by a trip to the dentist. In other situations, more severe chips in your smile may warrant restorative dentistry treatments to repair damage, reinforce a strong bite, and protect the tooth from further harm. Fortunately, the team at Tam Dental Group provides a wide range of potential options to address a chipped tooth and the best solution for you usually depends on the severity of the damage sustained. Effective treatments to repair chips and other types of damage include:
- Composite Bonding: Composite or cosmetic bonding is a simple treatment in which your dentist repairs minor chips in the enamel by layering a durable, tooth-colored resin on the damaged area. The region is then sculpted to restore the proportions of a healthy tooth and hardened to give you a natural-looking result! While effective, cosmetic bonding is only suitable to correct mild chips in the enamel.
- Composite Veneers: Composite veneers function in much of the same way as porcelain veneers, only the tooth-colored composite material is relatively less strong and enduring than dental porcelain. In addition, composite veneers can be a great choice for younger patients and are often used in pediatric applications. For those seeking more minimally invasive solutions, composite veneers can be effective for ultra-conservative additive dentistry. Composite can also be more affordable than porcelain veneers while still concealing mild to moderate chips.
- Porcelain Veneers: Patients searching for long-lasting improvement of teeth affected by damage (chips, cracks, fissures) can benefit from porcelain veneers. As there are many other treatments that can address aesthetic flaws in the teeth, our cosmetic dentist can assess your needs during a consultation and help you determine which solution is the most ideal for your goals. Some of the many benefits offered by porcelain veneers is that the entire process can be completed in as little as two office visits and results often last for years, if not decades. However, porcelain veneers are only effective to treat cosmetic concerns and should not be used to repair more severe damage, biting issues, pain, etc.
- Dental Crowns: If you suffer from more serious tooth damage or loss of biting function, a dental crown may be necessary to add strength and reinforcement. Dental crowns are placed on top of a weak tooth to protect the enamel from further damage. These restorations are typically used when the damage to a tooth affects your ability to bite, or cannot be corrected with bonding, a filling, or a veneer.
Questions? Dr Clarence Tam and our skilled dental team can help you find the best possible treatment option to repair damage in your tooth and restore a healthy, strong bite. Contact Tam Dental Group at our Auckland office for more information about fixing a chipped tooth or to book an appointment.