CRUNCH! You bit down on a piece of hard candy, ice, or maybe your nail, and you realize you chipped your tooth. Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, but that doesn’t mean it’s completely immune from breaking. Falling down, biting down on something hard, or other forms of impact have the potential to crack or chip your teeth. But don’t worry! There are treatments for broken teeth.
Generally speaking, when you chip a tooth, you’ll want to go see a dentist as soon as possible to remedy the situation. A dentist will usually use a composite resin restoration to replace missing tooth structure. These restorations are usually made using a mixture of a plastic-base with an inorganic glass filler. The glass component of the restoration gives the resin strength as well as a translucent aesthetic.
Composite resin is joined or “bonded” to the tooth in the shape of the piece that is missing. Composites resin can be made in a wide range of colors so that it matches the tooth it is meant to fix. They can be placed relatively quickly and easily using modern technology and an experienced dentist. Because they can be bonded directly to the tooth, a composite resin restoration often requires little preparation.
Composite resin restorations are usually used for smaller chips or cracks in teeth. Your dentist will etch into the surface of the existing tooth structure to roughen it so that the bonding material adheres correctly. After the dentist does this, they will apply and shape the resin to the match the existing tooth and make it look natural. Finally they will use an ultraviolet light to harden the material and make it permanent.
These procedures are pretty routine, so you should have nothing to worry about. But don’t wait! Waiting too long to address a chipped tooth could leave you prone to infection or further damage that could eventually result in the loss of that tooth!
