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Repairing Chipped Teeth

Home/ //Repairing Chipped Teeth

Chipped teeth can understandably cause a sense of panic, but the good news is that cracks, fissures, and breaks in the enamel often don’t require complex or lengthy treatment to address. While porcelain veneers are typically the longest-lasting solution to restore chipped teeth, Scripps Center for Dental Care also offers other aesthetic options to repair tooth damage and mend flaws in your smile. Depending on whether your needs are more cosmetic or restorative in nature, our team of experienced dentists can treat your concerns with dental bonding, single-unit composite veneers, or porcelain crowns.

If you would like to learn more about how you can achieve instant, stunning results through our tooth-restoring treatment options, please contact our La Jolla dental practice today.

ABOUT DENTAL BONDING

As an alternative for patients who are looking to transform their smiles without investing the time or finances required by porcelain veneers, dental bonding represents a tremendous value. Due to advances in materials, the results of direct freehand dental bonding can be extremely realistic, exhibiting incredible shine and lifelike colors. While the composite resin material used in dental bonding is not as durable as porcelain, it is nevertheless quite resilient and strong. Ultimately, direct freehand dental bonding is an outstanding smile makeover option, especially when carried out by our accredited cosmetic dentist.

Direct freehand dental bonding involves the application of a composite resin material to the teeth; this material is prepared so that it precisely matches the color of surrounding natural teeth. If desired, the procedure can be combined with teeth whitening for even more dramatic results. After the teeth whitening session, the bonding material can be crafted to match the brighter, more vibrant color of the natural teeth.

Once the bonding material has been applied to the teeth, it is meticulously shaped so that it blends seamlessly with the rest of the patient’s smile. It is then exposed to a curing light, which causes it to harden. After a final polish, the patient is able to emerge from treatment with a thoroughly revitalized and rejuvenated smile.

BENEFITS OF DENTAL BONDING

Advantages of this type of cosmetic care include minimal or no tooth preparation, instant results, control and shape, and a reduction in cost because no lab fees are generated. Among the limitations is a lack of long-term durability; restorations completed with direct freehand dental bonding last only about half as long as porcelain veneers and other restorations. Nonetheless, direct freehand bonding is an excellent option for patients who are not quite yet ready to invest in the cost of porcelain veneers.

Our team includes both Fellowed and Accredited cosmetic dentists by the American Board of Cosmetic Dentistry who are recognized leaders in the field. They are widely recognized for their artistic and technical skill with respect to direct freehand dental bonding and have earned a reputation for consistently beautiful transformations achieved with this procedure. To view some of the outstanding direct freehand dental bonding results achieved by our team, we invite you to visit our smile gallery.

SINGLE-UNIT VENEERS

Composite resin can also be used to create dental veneers. A single-unit veneer can be placed to enhance the appearance of an individual tooth that has cosmetic or functional concerns, such as staining, chips, cracks, or misalignment. In this situation, some filing of the natural tooth may be necessary to avoid a bulky result, and our top La Jolla dentists make every effort to reduce the enamel as minimally as possible. In the event freehand dental bonding cannot accomplish your goals, a composite veneer may be an appropriate alternative. Single-unit porcelain veneers may also be an option, and we can discuss all your choices during your initial consultation. As with dental bonding, composite veneers can be placed in one session, are cost-efficient compared with many other methods, and can provide an aesthetically appealing outcome.

PORCELAIN CROWNS

Porcelain crowns are generally reserved for more restorative issues related to the integrity of a tooth rather than aesthetic concerns. Dental crowns are “coverings” placed over the top of a weakened or damaged tooth to add support, strength, and protection, sometimes eliminating the need for an extraction. Crowns can be used to cap a dental implant, reinforce a tooth after a root canal, anchor a dental bridge, or simply help restore a fragile tooth. These sturdy dental “caps” are crafted from durable and realistic-looking porcelain, which allows the restoration to blend in harmoniously with the rest of your smile.

Learn More

For more information about dental bonding and composite resin, or to schedule a consultation with our team, please contact our practice.