Request personalized price quotes for Tooth Repair from local clinics before booking your first consultation
- No personal details needed
- Takes less than 15 minutes
Latest update: November 26, 2024
Medically reviewed by:
Greg Grillo, DDS
Tooth Repair
A tooth repair procedure addresses various problems such as tooth cracks or chipped teeth. Cracks and chips can occur when patients grind their teeth, bite on hard objects, suffer a facial injury, or have decayed teeth.
The dentist contours the tooth to smooth out any sharp edges using composite
resin for simple issues like a tooth chip. If needed, more extensive bonding may be performed to fill in gaps from the split. Bonding begins by roughening the tooth before applying an adhesive. The resin is added and shaped around the tooth before hardening the material with ultraviolet light.
Dental veneers are porcelain shells that sit over the front surface of chipped teeth to cover defects. It’s essential to immediately treat any cracks and chips since an untreated crack could result in a full fracture.
For more complex repairs, dentists may use crowns or implants.
Serious chips may need a dental crown that covers the damaged tooth. Dentists first shapes the tooth before placing the crown, usually made of metal, porcelain, resin or ceramic. Sometimes, the crack may reach the pulp and require a root canal. Dentists remove any damaged tissue during a root canal procedure before adding a dental crown to rebuild the tooth.
When the crack goes beyond the gum line, the tooth requires removal. In many of these cases, dentists can replace the missing tooth with a dental implant or permanent bridge.
If a tooth gets dislodged, the nerve dies within a few minutes. It is possible to treat it by following essential critical steps. Once the tooth has fallen out, rinse it in lukewarm water for 10 seconds and ensure you do not touch the root. Rinse your mouth with warm water and try to fit the fallen tooth into the socket. If unable to do so, store the tooth in whole milk to ensure it does not dry out. If there is bleeding in the mouth, control it using gauze. Immediately get to your nearest dentist with the tooth. This method usually only works within 30 minutes since the tooth may dry out and die beyond a short time.
Anesthesia
local
Operation Time
1-4
Inpatient Period
n/a
Number of Appointments
1-4
Recovery Period
n/a
Invasiveness
depends on treatment
How to fix a chipped/broken tooth, dental bonding, composite Pasta Evergreen Dental, Billerica, MA
Andy Huh, DMD, demonstrates the process of fixing a chipped tooth using dental bonding. He goes through the systematic process, applying the steps to a dental model.
Teeth Bonding Procedure | Front Tooth Filling to Repair Chipped Tooth
This video from San Diego shows a preferred method of fixing broken front teeth in children. The dentist describes this as a conservative procedure. He explains each step and explains why this technique is successful.
Dentist Filling A Cavity Between Teeth
Teeth Talk Girl shows her viewers how dentists apply a filling to a cavity that lies between two teeth. The video covers each stage of the process; from the preparation of the site to checking the bite. The narrator explains what each step entails and why it is necessary.
What's Really Happening During A Root Canal Procedure
Teeth Talk Girl provides a straightforward explanation of what a root canal is. She talks through the steps of the procedure and explains why they use specific apparatus. The video shows the process from beginning to end.