Chipped Or Cracked A Tooth?

Cosmetic bonding and veneers as possible solutions

As our Burton and Ashby dental practice re-opened recently, we have initially been focussing on helping out those patients who were in urgent need of treatment. These included those who were in a lot of pain from toothache or had suffered major damage to their teeth. As time has passed, we are now starting to treat those less serious, but still problematic, issues that may have arisen during our time in lockdown.

One of the more common problems that may have occurred during this time is a chipped or cracked tooth. These don’t necessarily cause any discomfort although sharp edges can cause cuts and grazes to the lips and cheeks. A minor chip or crack may also not pose any immediate major risk to the tooth but equally may have exposed the dentin layer of the tooth making decay and, potentially, root canal infections a possibility.

Even a small chip or crack can also be detrimental to having a great looking smile. Whatever the issues they may cause though, we recommend that you consider having the tooth restored, both to protect it and to help you have a nicer smile.

Cosmetic bonding

Cosmetic bonding material is similar to that used for a white filling and it can also be used to build up a damaged tooth. Because it bonds well with the natural tooth, it can be applied to the damaged area and shaped to leave a natural appearance. The advantages of this treatment is that it is usually non invasive and is a relatively straightforward one to perform. It may not be the best long term solution though as the material can discolour over time and, under pressure, may break away from the tooth and need to be reapplied.

For a longer lasting solution and where damage or aesthetics are more challening, Alexandra Dental Care may recommend the use of porcelain dental veneers.

Teeth veneers

Porcelain veneers offer a long term solution that not only preserves and strengthens the affected tooth but also offers long term aesthetic improvements. Although it usually requires more complex surgery, veneers should last for approximately 10 years providing that you look after them well.

If you are looking to restore a single tooth that has been damaged, we are able to match the colour of the new veneer to that of the rest of your teeth so that it blends in well when you smile. If you wish to use them to improve the colour of your teeth, we can adjust the degree of whiteness to a level that you are happy with, whether this is a complete transformation or an improvement of just a few shades whiter. The choice is entirely yours and we will discuss this option with you during your consultation.

Fitting veneers

There are some types of veneers which can be attached directly onto the existing teeth as they are. Whilst this is obviously a less invasive method, the additional length and thickness to the tooth caused by attaching the veneer in this way can leave the teeth looking a little more pronounced than usual. For an arguably more natural look, it can be advisable to have veneers fitted in the more traditional way, involving the removal of a very fine layer of enamel from the front surface of the teeth. Once this has been done, impressions are taken of the teeth which the veneers are then produced from. The new porcelain veneers are then attached to the prepared teeth using a strong clinical adhesive, before final shaping and polishing.

Your new veneers will provide a strong and attractive improvement to your smile. The porcelain will not chip or stain easily but this doesn’t mean that you don’t need to take care of them. We recommend that you treat your newly restored tooth the same way that you would a natural tooth. It is especially important to remember to brush the natural part of the tooth as any decay in this part of the tooth could cause the veneers to become detached.

We are slowly working towards a new ‘normal’ and you may see some changes here at Alexandra Dental Care for some time to come, depending on the future situation with the coronavirus. We ask you all to please bear with us and remember that any changes that may seem inconvenient are there to protect both yourself and members of our team.

Our Ashby, Burton and Swadlincote patients can arrange appointments as usual, by using the contact form on our website or ‘phoning us on 01283 216347.

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