A chipped tooth is a common dental injury that can happen to anyone. It’s not always easy to tell when a chip has occurred, and often the only sign of a chip is discomfort or pain in your mouth. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s essential to see your dentist as soon as possible. The sooner you get treated for chips, the better off you’ll be! Here are some reasons why it’s so important:

Save money

A chipped tooth that’s not treated right away will only get worse over time, and this could cost you more than if you were to treat it quickly. Treatment for a chip like this is much cheaper because the damage has already been done. Your dentist can usually repair it immediately, and you’ll be out the door in no time without having to pay for a new filling or crown.

Save your tooth

Chips that aren’t treated immediately run a high risk of further damage as bacteria build up over time. This not only poses major dental issues but also the possibility of losing your tooth entirely. If you’re in pain, there’s a good chance that the chip already had some damage to this point! Getting it fixed immediately is much better than waiting for things to get even worse and having to pay more later.

Save your smile

If left untreated for too long, chips can lead to a much bigger problem: cracks. Cracks and chips both pose the same issues, but they’re harder to detect than chipped teeth at first glance. Therefore, it’s essential to see your dentist as soon as possible if you think something might be wrong with your tooth.

Sometimes dental injuries can change a person’s smile in ways they don’t want. Braces are often used to help fix the alignment of teeth that have been affected by dental injuries like this, but you’ll still need some time off work and school for it.

Save your time (and sanity!)

Nobody wants to wait around for a dental emergency to be treated. Chips run the risk of becoming worse as time goes on, so it’s best if you see your dentist right away and don’t have to worry about going back later.

Lead to infection

You could be more likely to end up with decay or an infection. If your chipped tooth is damaged and you don’t treat it, your tooth could be more susceptible to developing decay and disease.

Affect your chewing and speaking

Chips can also lead to problems with the alignment of your bite. This often causes you to chew food on one side more than the other, which will eventually cause uneven wear within each tooth. It makes it much harder for teeth to work together as a unit if damage has already occurred! If left untreated, you’ll most likely have trouble pronouncing certain letters too.

Lead to a root canal

Depending on how severe the damage is and where it’s located in your mouth, chips can also end up needing a root canal treatment. Therefore, it’s in your interest to get any dental injury taken care of as soon as possible while things are still in their early stages! If left untreated for far too long, or if the chip has broken down into decay that goes deeper than just the enamel, you may need a root canal to fix it.

Cause your other teeth and gums problems

By preventing bacteria from entering your mouth, chips can help prevent further damage elsewhere. This can cause problems with your gums and other teeth, which might need to be treated before any root canals are necessary.

 

White dental fillings are a lot more popular than traditional silver amalgam fillings nowadays. Also known as composite fillings, the materials used are made from mixing plastic and glass resins. They can be color-matched with the patient’s teeth, so any repairs look natural in their mouth.

That leads to significantly improved aesthetics over conventional amalgam fillings, which have a dark gray color. White dental fillings can fix various dental issues like tooth decay, minor to mild chips and breaks, or stains and discoloration.

Questions to ask a dentist about white dental fillings

Thinking about restoring one or more damaged teeth with composite bonding? Here are the answers to some of the questions you might have:

1. What does the process look like?

Fixing dental issues with tooth-colored dental fillings is a non-invasive procedure that can be completed in as little as 45 minutes per tooth. It does not involve making permanent alterations to the patient’s tooth, and anesthetics are typically not used unless it is being used to treat tooth decay.

At the start of the treatment, the dentist cleans the patient’s tooth and applies an etching solution to roughen its exterior. This leads to a better bond with the composite and long-lasting results. The composite is applied to the tooth in layers and molded as needed. It is hardened with a curing light, and the tooth is polished to complete the treatment. They walk out of the clinic with their tooth fully restored.

2. How durable are these composite resins?

Tooth-colored fillings typically last as long as silver amalgam fillings. It allows the dentist to close up cavities with smaller fillings, preserving the integrity of the teeth being treated. Restorations made with composite bonding can last anywhere from 5 to 15 years. Follow-up applications of the composite can be performed as needed to preserve the appearance and effectiveness of the restoration.

3. How do I maintain composite restorations and repairs?

Teeth that have been restored with composite bonding do not need any additional maintenance besides brushing and flossing. This helps to keep the restored tooth healthy and minimizes stains forming on the tooth.

The composites used for tooth-colored fillings are more prone to stains than natural teeth. Avoiding things that can stain them, like tobacco smoke, coffee, and red wine helps preserve their color. Other things patients can do to maintain their composite fillings include:

• Avoid mouth rinses that contain alcohol
• Avoid abrasive oral hygiene products like those that contain baking soda
• Avoid biting down on hard things
• Brush twice daily and floss once each day
• Visit a dentist twice a year so the restoration can be examined

Restore your damaged teeth

Composite bonding provides a fast solution for issues like cavities or damaged teeth. It only takes about 45 minutes to fix a tooth, and you walk out of our clinic with a restored smile. Give us a call or visit our Colorado Springs clinic to set up an appointment with our dentist.