Fixing a Chipped Tooth

A tooth could get chipped whether you fell on your face because of an icy sidewalk or you bit down on some crunchy candy. No matter how small, your chipped tooth needs to be examined right away by a dentist in order to make sure that the tooth remains healthy: that the crack hasn’t affected the tooth’s vital nerves. If it’s a small chip, your dentist can do one of two procedures to correct the crack: one is bonding and the other is a veneer.

Tooth bonding is simpler and less expensive than a veneer. You don’t need any anesthetic — you won’t feel any pain — nor do you need to visit the dentist more than once to have the bonding procedure completed. Basically, after choosing a composite resin (a type of plastic) that’s a close match to the color of your teeth, your dentist will apply the resin so it sticks to your tooth, shaping/molding it, and then using a special ultraviolet light to harden the chemical. The downside of bonding is that it’s not as strong as your natural teeth so it could break or chip if you bit into hard candy, for example.

Unlike with bonding, a dental veneer is a tooth colored shell that’s either composed of a composite resin or porcelain. It’s bonded to the front of the tooth. There are different types of veneers that vary by the amount and type of tooth preparation required. (In other words, the extent of tooth layers that need to be removed before the veneer can be applied.) The easiest type of veneer may be referred to as a “no-prep” veneer, which requires just trimming down the tooth’s enamel only and, therefore, it doesn’t require any anesthetic. Then an impression or mold of the tooth is taken. Getting a veneer requires a second visit to your dentist because it takes a week or so for the lab to create the veneer from the mold. The veneer is then permanently cemented on your tooth and an ultraviolet light speeds up the hardening. While a traditional porcelain veneer can last longer than bonding (up to 15 years or so) no prep-veneers may only last five years or a bit longer. While bonding can cost up to $600 dollars, a veneer can cost upwards of $2,000.

If you’re considering veneers, schedule a consultation today with Dr. Farinas-Han at Smiles by Bergen Dental! Smiles by Bergen Dental is conveniently located in Midland Park New Jersey, within minutes from Ridgewood, Wyckoff, Glen Rock, Paramus, Ramsey, Allendale, Saddle River, Upper Saddle River, and Franklin Lakes.