How To Fix A Chipped Tooth

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Our teeth can not only epitomize a beautiful smile but are also remarkably strong. However, teeth are also delicate and are likely to break, chip or weaken. There are several ways in which you can chip a tooth – biting down on something hard, having a fall or being hit on the face.

A chipped tooth may not hurt, but it can be aesthetically unappealing especially when you smile. A jagged edge can also cut your tongue or sides of the mouth. Sometimes a major chunk comes off and that can cause acute pain especially if a nerve has been damaged in the process. A chipped, cracked or broken tooth needs immediate medical attention. Here are some ways to take care of a chipped tooth.

Tips To Fix A Chipped Tooth

Self-care

If your dentist appointment is not materializing immediately, take some preventive, self-care measures at home. Pop a painkiller like aspirin or brufen to deaden the pain. Alternately, chew on some cloves or rinse your mouth with warm, salty water that helps to relieve the pain. A sharp edge can be tackled by covering it with dental cement brought from the chemist. You can also use wax or paraffin. Eat semi -solid and soft foods that do not put pressure on your chipped tooth.

The Dentist

Once you have taken the above precautionary measures, see a dentist right away to get your teeth repaired. Here are some of the common dental procedures to repair a chipped tooth.

Filling

A tooth filling can repair a chipped tooth enamel. This technique works effectively for teeth like molars and other teeth that cannot be seen.

Bonding

Photo Credit: Wacodentalcare.com/2011/04/18/what-are-white-fillings

In case a front tooth has chipped and it is ruining your smile, then a procedure called as rebonding is used. In this, the doctor repairs the chipped tooth by using a tooth coloured composite resin. In this process, the edge is roughened to help the resin to adhere well to the tooth. Then the adhesive material is applied followed by the resin. An ultra violet light is then directed at the tooth to harden the material.

Dental Crowns

If a large part of the tooth or the entire tooth comes off, then a procedure called as crowning is done. In this, the entire tooth is covered with a crown that mimics the original tooth. The crown is made of  metal, ceramic or resin. Resin or ceramic crowns look almost like the original tooth. If the root of the tooth is intact, a pin is placed on the root and then the crown is fixed over this. Crowns are tedious and require x-rays and application of local anaesthetic depending on the severity of the damage.

Dental Veneers

Dental veneers are popularly used for front teeth that have been chipped. They are shells that are made of resin or porcelain and are shaped to cover the tooth. In this, the doctor first chips off some enamel from your tooth and this is sent to the lab in order to choose a resin that closely matches your tooth. The desired shape of the shell is also chalked out. The shell is ready after a week and you can come back to the dentist to have it placed. The ultraviolet light is then used to harden it.

Photo Credit: Schumancenter.com/services/cosmetic-dentist-st-louis/tooth-bonding-st-louis