If you have a chipped tooth there are many ways a restorative dentist can help you with this. What they do does depend on how large the chip is, however. To help you get your smile looking great again below is one treatment the dentist may use to repair your tooth.
Dental Inlays and Onlays
Inlays is much like a traditional filling. The material fits inside the top edges or the tips of the tooth. If the chip is worse, the dentist will use onlays that extend further over the tooth.
The dentist will have to file down the tooth in order to make room for the inlay or onlay. Once they do this, the dentist will take impressions of the tooth. They will then send these impressions to a dental lab, who will create a replica of the chipped tooth. The dentist will place a temporary over the tooth to protect it while you are waiting for the custom inlay or onlay to arrive. When the dentist receives the custom inlay or onlay they will use a special cement over the surface of the tooth and then place the inlay or onlay over the cement to secure it.
If the chip is on a back tooth, the dentist may choose to use gold for the materials. Gold is more durable and can withstand pressure when you chew. If the chip is on a front tooth the dentist will likely use porcelain as they can choose a color of the porcelain that matches your other teeth. This way, no one will know you have any type of covering on your tooth.
Whiten Teeth
This would be a good time to whiten your teeth. You can choose to do this in the dentist office. The dental hygienist will generally do this procedure for you. The hygienist will brush a bleaching gel on your teeth. A special light is used to activate the bleach gel. If your teeth are very stained, you may have to go back for another treatment to completely whiten your teeth.
If you would like to whiten your teeth at home the dentist can give you a special tray with the bleaching agent. The tray fits over each tooth. You place the bleaching gel onto each compartment of the tray and the insert the tray into your mouth. Your dentist will explain to you exactly how to use it.
Talk to your restorative dentist if you have questions about any of this.
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