Accidents, blow to the tooth, mouth injury or trauma, opening something, or even biting down on a hard piece of food like an almond can fracture your tooth. It can be distressing to look at the broken, slightly chipped tooth and panic. But you can relax if you have a chipped tooth; your dentist will be able to fix it. Below, we have listed four dental methods answering how to fix a chipped tooth.
How Does a Dentist Fix a Chipped Tooth?
If you want to know how to fix a chipped tooth, here are some dental procedures your dentist might take:
1. Dental Filling or Bonding
If a small piece of your enamel was chipped, your dentist might go with filling or bonding. Dental Bonding is the preferred chipped tooth repair option if you have damaged your tooth’s front or visible part.
For dental bonding, your dentist will file or etch the tooth with a specific gel or liquid. Next, they will apply an adhesive substance to attach the tooth-colored composite resin. Then, they will file the composite to match your tooth’s shape and look natural. Lastly, they will harden the resin with the help of ultraviolet light. You can go home with a fixed smile.
2. Dental Cap or Crown
If you have chipped off a large part of your tooth or the tooth is severely decayed, your dentist will grind the remaining portion of your tooth and cover it with a crown. A dental crown protects your tooth and improves its appearance, and it matches the color and shape of your tooth.
3. Dental Veneers
If your query is: how to fix a chipped tooth? Another answer can be dental veneers. They are helpful if you have broken your front tooth. Your dentist will file down a bit of your tooth enamel to make space for veneer, then send an impression to the lab. This thin, tooth-colored shell is prepared using resin composite or porcelain to fit your tooth. Then, your dentist will attach it to the chipped tooth using special cement. After a light hardens it, you are good to go.
4. Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy might be the solution if you have broken a considerable part of your tooth, exposing your pulp. Your dentist or endodontist might remove the dead pulp, clean the root canal, and seal it. They will cover the weakened tooth with a dental crown.
How to Fix a Chipped Tooth at Home?
If you fracture, chip, or break your tooth, the immediate thing to do is visit your dentist. Meanwhile, do the following:
- Swirl saltwater in your mouth to rinse it.
- Use over-the-counter pain relievers if you have tooth pain.
- If your tooth is sharp or jagged due to the break, cover it with wax paraffin or sugarless chewing gum to avoid cutting the inside of your lip, cheek, or your tongue.
- Eat soft foods and don’t use the broken tooth to chew.
You cannot ‘fix’ your chipped tooth at home. But you can care for it while you visit your dentist for proper treatment.
Closing Word
To conclude, your dentist might use filling, bonding, crown, or veneer to fix chipped tooth. If the chip is severe, they might go for root canal therapy. These are the answers to how to fix a chipped tooth. However, if you cannot go to your dentist for some reason, you can try temporary chipped tooth repair at home. If you need to fix your fractured tooth, our dental experts at Gessner Smile Dentistry can help. Dial (713) 858-8513 now.