24
Oct
Options to repair chipped teeth
Yes, a chipped tooth can affect the appearance of your smile. But without treatment, chips can become a bigger problem that affects more than just your smile. It’s important to find a “dentist near me in South Holland, Illinois” who can repair your tooth and protect it from further damage.
How do you treat chipped teeth?
It depends on the chip! For minor chips and cracks, our dentist at Pleasant Dental® in Dolton may use treatments such as dental bonding or porcelain veneers. For bigger chips (with or without root canal treatment), dental crowns may be needed. The location of the chip also matters. The deeper the chip is under the surface of the tooth, the more extensive the treatment needed to repair it. Also, chips that extend under the gumline are generally more challenging to treat.
How do you use bonding for chips?
More “superficial” chips on the outer covering of the teeth can be treated this way. First, we take a quartz-like material called composite resin. Then, we shade-match that material to your teeth and apply it to the chipped areas. The material covers up the chips. When you smile, the damage is not visible. It’s hidden under the composite. Bonding is a fast and affordable way to stop the chips and cracks from worsening.
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New Patients: (708) 576-1900 | Existing Patients: (708) 849-4400 Request an Appointment
What about veneers – how do they “work” for chipped teeth?
Similar to dental bonding! Instead of composite, though, we use porcelain. Our ceramist makes thin coverings from this material. Once the covering is ready, we apply it to the chipped teeth. The porcelain covers up chips and other things you don’t like about your teeth’s appearance. While veneers cost more upfront and take longer, patients like how strong they are and how much they resemble natural tooth enamel. This material also resists stains better.
Why would I need a crown for chipped teeth?
Crowns fit on top of the damaged teeth, much like a thimble fits over your finger or a cap fits over your head. Since the crown fits on top of the tooth, it provides more strength and structure than the other options mentioned here. So, we generally use crowns for moderate to severe chips and fractures. Just a few examples:
- Damaged back teeth that withstand the full force of chewing food
- Chips near the gumline or closer to a tooth’s nerve
- When the cusps or high points of the chewing teeth are fractured
What materials do you use for a crown?
Pleasant Dental® uses both metals and porcelain. If we could shade-match gold, that would be our No. 1 choice. It has the same wear strength as tooth enamel. Since that’s impossible, we often use zirconia. One of the toughest materials in dentistry, zirconia can also be custom-matched to the natural color, size, and shape of your teeth. For the most aesthetic cases and visible teeth, we may bond porcelain to a zirconia base. So, your repaired tooth will look natural and is built to stand the test of time.
If you are searching for a dentist in the South Holland, IL, area to help with your dental concerns, call us! Speak with a member of our team in Dolton today—(708) 576-1900.
Dean Dietrich, DMD
Dr. Dean Dietrich has been practicing dentistry since 1986, when he received his Doctor of Dental Medicine from Southern Illinois University's School of Dental Medicine. He had completed his undergraduate studies in business marketing and management at Michigan State University from 1978 to 1982.He opened Pleasant Dental in 2003 to provide excellent dental care and value for his patients. He is especially skilled and experienced with root canals, implants, and handling dental anxiety.
Dr. Dietrich is a member of the American Dental Association, Illinois State Dental Society, Chicago Dental Society, and the Indian Dental Association. He is licensed in Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan and has orthodontic certification from the Academy of GP Orthodontics. Multiple agencies have recognized him annually as one of America’s Top Dentists.
