Crown, Filling or Veneer?
Chipping your front tooth can be a traumatic experience. Your front teeth are the showcase of your smile, and your smile is one of the foundations of an aesthetically pleasing face. If you have chipped a front tooth, you have several options available to you. Keep in mind your options will be determined on a case-by-case basis if you do have a chipped front tooth, we recommend you call us to make an appointment right away.
Treatment for your broken front tooth depends on the severity of the damage.
If you only have a little damage where, for example, only a little of the enamel chipped off, we may be able to repair your tooth in one office visit. But if the damage is more severe it may take more time to properly repair your tooth.
Dental Bonding or Fillings
When a small piece of enamel is chipped off, we may be able to repair it with a procedure called bonding. Bonding is a relatively simple procedure and generally doesn’t require that the tooth be numbed. To bond your tooth, Dr. Juriansz will first use a liquid to etch the surface so that the bonding material will bond to the surface of it. Next he will apply adhesive material to your tooth, then the bonding material (also called composite filling). Dr. Juriansz will take great care to shape the bonding material so that it matches your other teeth and looks natural. Last, he will use a special light to harden the bonding material.
Dental Crowns or Caps
If you have broken off a large piece of your tooth, Dr. Juriansz may have to remove part of what is left in order to cover it with a crown. A crown is a tooth-shaped cap that is specially made to protect your damaged tooth while improving its appearance. During the first visit, Dr. Juriansz will take dental X-rays to check to make sure there are no problems with the roots of your tooth or the bone surrounding it. Then he will take an impression of your tooth and send it to a lab where they will make your crown. Dr. Juriansz will send you home with a temporary crown, which you’ll have on until your permanent crown arrives.
Depending on your unique circumstance, your crown could be made of resin, ceramic or porcelain fused to metal. Each type of material has different benefits. While all-metal crowns are the strongest, resin and porcelain crowns can be made to look more like a natural tooth.
When your permanent crown arrives, Dr. Juriansz will remove your temporary crown, check the fit of the permanent one and then cement it into place.
Dental Veneers
If you have chipped your front tooth, Dr. Juriansz may be able to use a veneer to make it look like a beautiful, healthy tooth again. A veneer is made out of tooth-colored resin or porcelain and it covers the front of your tooth.
Dr. Juriansz will first prepare your tooth by removing a tiny bit of enamel from your tooth’s surface. Then he’ll take an impression of your tooth and send it to a lab to have the veneer made. After the veneer arrives you’ll come back to the office and he will etch the surface of your tooth with a liquid to help the veneer bond to it. He will then place the veneer on the prepared tooth, using a special kind of cement. Then he’ll use a special light to help the cement harden.
If your tooth is damaged, it’s important to see us as soon as possible.
A fractured, chipped or broken tooth could become further damaged or infected. If you do have a damaged tooth, call us to schedule an appointment immediately so we can help you maintain the healthiest, most beautiful smile possible.
