Dr. Mogell Dental Blog

Boca Raton Cosmetic Dentist

Chipped A Tooth, No One Will Know

Wednesday, December 07, 2011

It never fails, dental emergencies like a chipped tooth occur at the most inconvenient time. The reasons for the damage range from silly to serious and include people who grind their teeth so severely they cause breakage. How we repair the damage depends on factors such as the size and location of the chip, which tooth is chipped and the overall oral health of the patient.

Options for repairing a chip include bonding and porcelain veneers. For a tooth that is badly chipped or cracked a full dental crown may be needed. If the damaged tooth is one that is easily seen when you smile please make sure that the dentist has received extensive training in cosmetic dentistry so that your smile will be as beautiful after the restoration as it was before the repair - maybe even better!

For smaller chips dental bonding may be sufficient. A tooth colored restoration material is bonded to the damaged surface and carefully sculpted to look just like your original tooth. The technique has some advantages but it is also subject to staining and may not last as long as a dental veneer.
Dental veneers are thin pieces of ceramic material that are created in a dental lab. They are matched to your tooth color and provide a very lifelike appearance. The dental veneers are bonded to your natural teeth and allow for the correction of chipped, discolored or misshapen teeth. A dental crown may be needed if the damage to the tooth is too severe to be corrected with the other alternatives.
If you have chipped a tooth please contact Dr. Ken Mogell at 561-271-2483 to discuss your treatment options in South Palm Beach County. Please don't delay, small chips can easily become larger, and the damage to the tooth more extensive over time.

Labels: cosmetic dentistry, dental veneers