Fix Chipped Teeth
A chipped tooth may not seem to be a big deal but if you do not get it repaired, a chip can turn into a much bigger problem and cost much more to fix. A chipped tooth can happen eating or in an accident and should be tended to as quickly as possible. Unless the chip is severe, it is unlikely that you are experiencing any discomfort in the tooth though there may be some sharpness due to a jagged edge. If you do experience some amount of pain, this can typically be managed with over-the-counter pain medications.
What options are available to repair a chipped tooth?
If you have a minor chip, your dentist may be able to simply smooth the tooth so that you do not have any sharp edges or composite bonding might be ideal. But if your tooth has a very large chip, you may require more extensive treatment in the form of a crown or veneer. Let’s take a closer look at your options to repair a chipped tooth:
Composite bonding is the least invasive and least costly option for repairing a chipped tooth. Bonding can usually be done in one visit in about 30 minutes. Depending on the severity of the chip, composite bonding costs between $100 and $700 per tooth.
To begin, your dentist will clean and dry the tooth being treated and then use an etching solution to rough up the surface of the tooth so that the composite adheres properly. They will then apply the composite material to the area and shape it to match the rest of your teeth and then cure it with an ultraviolet light. Your dentist will then refine the area and make sure everything is smooth and perfect, ensuring that your bite is unaffected, and then polish the material to a natural finish.
Dental crowns are typically made of porcelain and fit over the entire exposed structure of the tooth. Dental crowns are a bit more expensive, costing between $750 and $2500, but they are ideal for larger chips in the tooth and can hold a tooth that has fractured together and keep it from having to be extracted. Crowns may also be fabricated using metal materials but most patients prefer porcelain since it can be tinted to match the rest of the teeth.
To place a crown, your dentist will prepare the tooth by removing a small amount of enamel from the entire surface of the tooth and then they will take an impression of the tooth. If your dentist has the technology to make the crown in the house, this treatment can be completed in one visit. If they rely on a dental lab to fabricate your restoration, you will have to come back for a second visit to place the crown.
Porcelain veneers are placed just like crowns but do not require as much tooth structure to be removed since a veneer only covers the front of the tooth. Veneers are one of the more costly options but they are great for anterior teeth and allow the patient to retain more tooth structure than crowns. Porcelain veneers cost between $850 and $3000 each.
In the event that your tooth chips or breaks in such a way that the root becomes exposed, your dentist may send you to an endodontist for a root canal before placing your restoration. A root canal may cost between $500 and $1500 per tooth.