A chipped front tooth is repaired according to how much tooth is missing: a rough edge can be smoothed, a small chip is rebuilt with tooth-colored bonding, a larger chip or several uneven teeth can be covered with a veneer, and a tooth that has lost a large piece or is weak gets a crown. Have the chip checked first, because only an exam shows how deep it goes.
Why should a chip be checked even if it doesn't hurt?
Enamel can break off after a fall, a sports knock, biting something hard, using your teeth to open packages, or years of grinding. A chip that looks small can still reach the inner layers of the tooth, and a chip left untreated can let infection in. An exam and, when needed, an x-ray show whether the repair can be purely cosmetic.
Until your visit, keep any larger broken piece in milk, cover a sharp edge with dental wax and stick to soft foods.
When is bonding enough?
Bonding is the usual choice for a small chip on a front tooth. The dentist shapes tooth-colored composite resin directly on the tooth and polishes it to match. It typically takes 30 to 60 minutes per tooth, needs little or no enamel removed, and is done in one visit.
The trade-off is durability: bonding picks up stains more easily than porcelain and can chip again. It generally lasts three to 10 years before it needs touching up or replacing.
When is a veneer the better choice?
A veneer is a thin custom covering for the front of the tooth. It makes sense when the chip is larger than bonding can hold well, or when the same visit should also fix color, shape or small gaps across several front teeth. Porcelain veneers resist staining and wear better than composite ones.
Placing a traditional veneer means removing a thin layer of enamel, so the decision is permanent, and veneers can themselves chip or loosen over time and need re-bonding or replacing.
When does a chipped tooth need a crown?
A crown covers the whole tooth. It is the stronger option when a large piece has broken off, when the tooth already has a big filling, or when the remaining tooth is too weak to hold bonding or a veneer. If the break has reached the nerve, root canal treatment usually comes first and the crown protects the tooth afterwards.
What does our office offer for a chipped tooth?
At our Deerfield Beach office we offer cosmetic bonding, contouring and reshaping, porcelain veneers, Lumineers and porcelain crowns, including CEREC crowns made in a single appointment. Which one fits depends on the size of the chip, your bite and how the neighboring teeth look.
General information, not a diagnosis. Questions about your own teeth: call Dr. Angela Berkovich, DMD at (954) 427-3000. For facial swelling, a fever or trouble breathing or swallowing, seek urgent medical care.
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic: Chipped Tooth: Causes, Symptoms & Repair
- Cleveland Clinic: What is Dental Bonding & What To Expect
- American Dental Association (MouthHealthy): Veneers
- American Dental Association (MouthHealthy): Crowns