Chipped & Broken Tooth Treatment in Wilmette, IL
The enamel on the outside of your teeth is the strongest type of tissue in the human body. However, there are still limits to what it can withstand.
Broken, cracked, and chipped teeth typically occur as a result of injury or biting down on hard foods. Regardless of the reason, repairing broken, cracked, or chipped teeth is essential for protecting your future oral health.
Even if the chip or crack is small and you feel no pain, you still need to have the tooth fixed. Leaving it exposed could lead to decay and even more tooth loss. Let’s go over the different methods dentists use for making repairs.
Repairing Chipped Teeth in Wilmette, IL
The approach used for fixing a broken, cracked or chipped tooth varies based on the type of damage and location. Your dentist will first need to examine your tooth to determine the most appropriate method.
If you have a very minor chip, break, or crack, your dentist may not have to perform a procedure. They can simply smooth and polish your tooth so it retains its original appearance.
However, if the damage is moderate to severe, you’ll most likely need more extensive treatment.
Dental Veneers near North Shore, IL
A dental veneer is a type of cover that is placed on the surface of a tooth to cover and protect teeth that are cracked, chipped, or fractured. The most common type of dental veneers is porcelain veneers, as they provide a very natural-looking appearance.
Your Wilmette dentist will bond the dental veneer to the front of the damaged tooth. As long as you take good care of it, a tooth veneer can last 30 years. This means you won’t have to worry about returning for further work on that tooth.
A big advantage to veneers is that a dentist can match them to the natural color of your other teeth. He will work with you to choose the right shape and size to create your perfect smile.
During the veneers procedure, your dentist may need to first remove some of the damaged tooth to ensure that the veneer fits correctly. Then, they will take an impression of your tooth for the dental lab to use to create the veneer. Your dentist can fit you with a temporary one in the meantime.
Once your permanent veneer is ready, the temporary piece gets removed and your dentist will use a bonding material to affix the dental veneer to the front of the damaged tooth.
Learn More About Dental VeneersTooth Bonding near Evanston, IL
Another technique for broken, cracked, or chipped tooth repair is composite bonding for teeth. This is a good option if you have a damaged tooth, but don’t want to spend too much money right away.
For this method, your Wilmette dentist will use a composite resin material to fill in the broken, cracked, or chipped section. They can then shape the material to give it a natural appearance. This will provide a covering for about 10 years.
The dental bonding procedure is relatively simple, following these basic steps:
- During this procedure, your dentist will roughen the damaged tooth and apply a conditioning material. Then the composite material, which has a putty-like consistency, gets applied and shaped.
- Your dentist will then use an ultraviolet light on the tooth. This light helps to quickly harden the material.
- After the composite bond has hardened, your dentist can file down any awkward edges. They’ll also smooth and polish the bond.
An advantage of this procedure is that your dentist can complete it relatively quickly. You won’t need a follow-up appointment.
Dental Crowns in Wilmette, IL
One of the most common restorative dental procedures is a crown. This is a good option if you have a badly broken, cracked, or chipped tooth.
Think of a dental crown as a cap that fits over your tooth. This protects the tooth from further damage or pain related to chewing.
Dental crowns are available in a number of different materials. These include porcelain, ceramic, and stainless steel. Your doctor can advise you on which material is the most appropriate for your situation.
Receiving a crown usually requires multiple visits. During the first visit, your dentist will file down the damaged tooth to ensure the crown fits correctly. In cases of a severely broken, cracked, or chipped tooth, your dentist may need to fill in part of the missing area so the crown holds once it’s applied. Then, your dentist will take an impression of the tooth.
On the second visit, your dentist will place the crown over the tooth and attach it with an adhesive material.
Learn More About Dental CrownsDental Implants near Evanston, IL
If your tooth is severely broken, cracked, or chipped during an injury, there’s a chance that we may not be able to save the tooth, and it will need to be replaced. If that crack extends under your gum line, you’ll need to have the tooth extracted and a dental implant put in.
A dental implant is an artificial tooth that’s secured to your jawbone to replace the extracted tooth. This procedure is much more extensive, but the resulting implant is permanent.
There are many steps involved in receiving a tooth implant:
- It starts with having the damaged tooth completely extracted.
- After your mouth has healed, a screw gets placed into the jawbone. This screw is the dental implant itself, and it acts as the root of your new replacement tooth.
- After the bone has fused with the implant, your dentist will fit it with a temporary tooth and make an impression. A dental lab will then create the permanent crown from the impression.
- During the final step, your dentist will affix the visible dental crown to the dental implant in your jaw.
The entire process can take several months, but at the end of it, you will have a sturdy and beautiful new tooth that will last for 25 years or more!
Learn More About Dental ImplantsRoot Canal Treatment in Wilmette, IL
Another treatment for a severely damaged tooth is a root canal. You may need this in conjunction with a crown.
If a break, chip, or crack in your tooth extends down to the pulp, your tooth will start to decay. If a crack of this magnitude is ignored, you risk infection, an abscess, or even bone loss. A root canal works by removing this decay before a crown gets fitted to protect the damaged tooth.
Your dentist will start the root canal by administering an anesthetic to help reduce any discomfort. Next, they’ll drill into the damaged tooth and remove the pulp along with the nerve—taking away any tooth pain.
Your dentist will then seal the tooth so an infection doesn’t occur again. If the damaged tooth still needs additional support, your dentist can apply a crown.
Learn More About Root Canal TreatmentDon’t Wait to Have a Chipped Tooth Repaired in Wilmette!
If you break, chip, or crack a tooth, it’s important to have it examined by a dentist right away. If ignored, you could end up with further tooth loss or infection.
It may seem like repairing chipped teeth will be a painful, tedious experience. However, an experienced dentist will make the process comfortable and stress-free. We provide restorative and cosmetic dentistry for patients in Wilmette, Evanston, and Chicago’s North Shore. Contact us today for an appointment.
