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Protecting your teeth’s structure and form is essential, but if you find yourself in an unfortunate circumstance where your enamel has chipped, you may be feeling worried. Not only can a chipped tooth make you self-conscious about how it impacts your smile, but if not properly treated, more severe issues could arise, such as bacterial infection or even potential tooth loss.
Thankfully there are multiple options for taking care of the issue so that no one will ever notice! Depending on the size of the chip, its location in relation to other teeth and the condition of both oral health and overall well-being–your dentist might suggest porcelain veneers or cosmetic dental bonding among several restorative solutions. So don’t search “how to fix a chipped tooth?” any longer – these choices ensure that soon enough, nothing will remain damaged at all!
If you experienced a traumatic event or an accident, the chip in your tooth might be immediately apparent. Nevertheless, often times these chips are more inconspicuous and go unnoticed for hours or days afterwards. If any of the following signs present themselves to you, it’s likely that one of your teeth has become chipped.
A rough, unpleasant sensation when running your tongue along your teeth
Tenderness or soreness around the gum line of a tooth
Tiny scratches or abrasions on your tongue.
Discomfort while chewing and biting food.
Unexpected pain in response to hot or cold foods and drinks.
At Radiant Smiles Dental, our professional dentists are well-versed in restoring a chipped or broken tooth. We specialise in providing aesthetic and functional solutions that fit every patient’s needs—from bonding to fillings and root canals to dental crowns and veneers.
Treatments for quick chipped tooth fix
Taking the initial step towards treating a chipped tooth is scheduling an appointment with your dentist. Without immediate attention, this type of injury can be hazardous to your dental health as bacteria, and food particles may accumulate in the gap between teeth, leading to infection in the pulp.
If that should happen, it’s advised you receive restorative treatment before cosmetic procedures are recommended or considered.
Dental veneers
Unlike other treatments used for substantial damage, these thin tooth-coloured shells deliver immediate results even with minimal chips in your teeth.
Customised and permanently bonded to the outer surface of your pearly whites, they’ll flawlessly blend in their shape and colour while concealing discolouration, extending short teeth, disguising gaps between them or restoring chipped ones – all without raising suspicion!
Porcelain veneers
At Radiant Smiles Dental, we are proud to provide our patients with porcelain veneers. Our restorations perfectly replicate the look and feel of natural teeth, as after bonding and reshaping, they blend seamlessly into your healthy enamel for an undetectable finish! Porcelain veneers serve as a wonderful solution to fix any chips you may have in your smile without anyone being able to tell the difference.
Porcelain veneers boast many benefits, one of the most impressive being their long-lasting lifespan. Several studies have suggested that with proper maintenance, porcelain veneers can last for up to 10 years or more. In fact, amongst patients who do not smoke nor suffer from bruxism (teeth grinding), another research suggests these restorations may even be able to sustain themselves for 20 years!
The veneer procedure
On your initial checkup, we’ll take X-rays of your teeth and gums to obtain a more detailed understanding of the condition of your oral health. If there are no indications that you have gum disease, tooth decay or infection, our dentist can then start the procedure.
Taking impressions from any chipped teeth is also essential for us to design custom veneers tailored just for you; these typically require one to two weeks of production time at a dental laboratory before fitting them on.
We will now sculpt and refine the chipped tooth to get it ready for its veneer. This requires us to take off a thin layer of enamel from your teeth surface – only about half a millimetre. Porcelain veneers are especially slim, so this is all we have to remove from your original tooth!
After we have customised your porcelain veneers, it’s time to finish the restoration. Your dentist will start by etching the tooth’s surface to prepare for dental cement application; a single side of each veneer is then carefully covered with this cement before placing them onto your teeth. To make sure that they remain secure, we use special dental lights to hasten the hardening process.
With no extra care needed from you, our custom-made porcelain veneers can last long! All you need to do is keep brushing and flossing daily like usual, plus visit us regularly for checkups – that should be enough to maintain their excellent condition throughout the years!
Dental veneers are often the go-to answer for how to fix a chipped tooth but don’t jump too quickly on this bandwagon. Depending on your needs and budget, consider these alternative cosmetic solutions for repairing your broken teeth.
Dental bonding
If you just need to touch up a small chip in your tooth, dental bonding is an ideal non-invasive choice. Your dentist will start by texturing the affected area with an etching liquid and then cover it with a composite resin that will be formed into shape according to how your teeth fit together when you bite or smile. After this, they’ll utilise a special light to harden the material before trimming and polishing it so that it adheres seamlessly with your other natural teeth.
Root canal treatment
If your dental pulp has been infected, root canal treatment is necessary to remove the damaged tissue. During this procedure, a small cut will be made in the tooth, and endodontic files used by your dentist to clean out the area before disinfecting it and sealing it up with a temporary filling. Once any inflammation or pain subsides, you can go back for either a permanent filling or crown if necessary – both of which are designed to restore form and function!
Dental crown
If you have a large broken or chipped tooth, it may not be salvageable with a cosmetic procedure. A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that fits over a chipped or cracked tooth, protecting it from further harm. The tooth-coloured dental crown is cemented in place for a custom fit and a seamless smile.
Home Remedies for chipped tooth pain relief
Before scheduling a visit at the dentist’s office, there are numerous home remedies that you can use as temporary relief for chipped tooth pain:
Rinse with salt water
Quickly rinse your mouth with warm salt water. This will help to reduce bacteria and flush out any debris that may have been collected in the area of injury. Additionally, washing your mouth right away can decrease potential pain and inflammation as well.
Apply pressure to stop the bleeding
Gently press the wound to put a stop to any bleeding. To reduce swelling and pain, place an ice pack on the area for a few minutes.
Over-the-counter pain relievers
Ibuprofen and other OTC medications are effective for reducing pain, but be sure to adhere to the package’s recommended dosage. For an extra layer of relief, try clove oil on the affected area: it contains eugenol, a powerful numbing agent with anti-inflammatory properties that can help alleviate your discomfort.
Dental wax
If you have a small chip or jagged edge on your tooth, applying dental wax can prevent any sharpness from hurting your tongue and damaging the rest of your mouth. Ready-made temporary fix kits with dental wax are available in most drugstores. However, this home remedy is not suitable for cases involving large chips or missing sections of teeth – if that is the case, it’s best to visit a dentist immediately. Additionally, when using dental wax, remember to avoid chewing on the side with the damaged tooth and consider flossing around it to minimise discomfort and relieve pressure.
Temporary tooth repair kits
Drugstores and online stores offer a variety of temporary tooth repair kits; although they are not intended as an alternative to professional dental care, these can help in the interim until you have a chance to see your dentist. While these kits provide only short-term solutions which may not be able to address more serious issues that could lead to infection or even tooth loss, some include medical wax while others feature mouldable material designed for filling any gaps on chipped teeth.
Repair your chipped tooth at Radiant Smiles Dental Group
Don’t let a small chip in your tooth become an extensive problem -reach out to Radiant Smiles Dental Group today! Our experienced, friendly dentist can restore and reinvigorate your smile, giving you the confidence boost that follows. Our solution can vary depending on the size of the chip, its location within your mouth, as well as what kind of aesthetic results you’re hoping for. Get in touch with us now on (03) 9000 0537 so we can arrange a consultation and discuss how we can improve your oral health.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
Chipped tooth
https://www.healthline.com/health/chipped-tooth#:~:text=Self%2Dcare%20for%20a%20chipped%20tooth&text=Place%20temporary%20dental%20filling%20material,IB)%20if%20you%20have%20pain.
Repairing a chipped or broken tooth
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/repairing-a-chipped-or-broken-tooth
