Fix Chipped Teeth

If you break, chip, or fracture a tooth, it is imperative that you visit your dentist as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that the tooth will sustain even more damage. In some cases, the chipped tooth could become infected, which can result in serious health risks and may even result in the loss of the tooth. Until you are able to get in to see your dentist to address a chipped tooth, you may find relief for pain by using an over-the-counter pain reliever like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. To stave off infection, rinse your mouth periodically with salt water. If the chipped tooth has a rough or jagged edge, you may want to cover it with paraffin wax, sugarless chewing gum, or a similar material to prevent you from damaging your tongue and cheek. If you eat, be sure to choose softer foods and try not to bite down on the tooth that is damaged. You also may want to use an over-the-counter product called Dentemp to temporarily treat your chipped tooth, though this is meant to be a very short-term solution.

Once you are able to get in to the dentist’s office, your dentist will fix your chipped tooth in one of a few ways, depending on how significant the damage is. If only a small piece of enamel has broken from the tooth, your dentist may be able to repair your tooth in a single office visit. A more seriously damaged tooth may require a more complex solution, which may take multiple office visits. Your dentist may recommend filling or bonding the chipped tooth, using a tooth-colored composite material if the tooth that has been chipped is visible. For bonding, no local anesthesia is necessary. First, your dentist will lightly scratch the surface of the tooth with a liquid or gel that makes the tooth more receptive to adhesives. Then, your dentist will apply a layer of adhesive, followed by a layer of composite resin. After the dentist shapes this layer of resin so that it matches your natural tooth, the dentist will use an ultraviolet light to harden the surface of the composite resin bonding material. If a front tooth is chipped, your dentist can make it appear flawless by using a dental veneer. This dental veneer is an extremely thin layer of tooth-colored material, usually either composite resin or porcelain, that is custom created for your needs. Once they have been crafted in a lab, dental veneers are cemented to the surface of the existing tooth using a medical-grade cement. You may also be able to repair a chipped tooth with a dental crown. If a substantial portion of your tooth has chipped away, your dentist may file the tooth down even more and protect it with a dental crown, which caps the surface of the tooth, improving its appearance and allowing it to maintain its full functionality. If the pulp inside the tooth is exposed when the tooth is chipped, this may lead to infection, which may necessitate a root canal. A root canal cleans out the tooth, removing any dead or dying pulp from inside the tooth. Once the infection has been removed, the dentist caps the tooth with a crown, protecting it from further infection and restoring its appearance at the same time. Because of the risk of infection, and the possible risk of damage to the softer tissues inside the mouth, it is important to address and repair a chipped tooth as soon as possible.

The cost for fixing a chipped tooth can vary widely, depending on the severity of the issue, the location of the tooth, and the treatment that is required. If you have a very small chip in your tooth that can easily be fixed with dental bonding, you may pay a few hundred dollars for treatment. If your chipped tooth requires a root canal and a protective crown, your treatment may cost a few thousand dollars. For patients with no dental insurance, repairing a chipped tooth with a filling will average $100 to $500 in cost. Crowns range in price from $250 to $2,000, based on the location of the tooth and the material used to make the crown. Root canal costs anywhere from $500 to $1,000, depending on severity and location, and dental veneers range in price between $925 and $2,500 per tooth. Dental insurance may help offset some of these expenses, so be sure to talk to your dental insurance provider before agreeing to any dental restoration procedure.

More on Fixing Teeth : Fix Cracked Teeth