A chipped tooth can happen to anyone at any time and often does not cause pain but can lead to bigger problems down the road. It is important to have even a minor chip repaired as soon as possible to ensure the integrity of the tooth. A small chip can quickly turn into a cracked tooth which is often painful and always much more costly to repair.
Treatment For Chipped Teeth
There are a few different options available to repair a chipped tooth. Depending on the severity of the chip, your dentist will help determine which treatment option is best for your individual case.
Cosmetic Contouring
For very small chips, your dentist may be able to simply smooth the area so that you do not have a rough edge that will negatively impact your tongue or cheeks. Even smoothing out a small chip will help prevent the chip from getting larger.
Composite Bonding
Bonding is typically the most common treatment for a chipped tooth. Composite bonding is not invasive and retains a maximum amount of tooth structure. Depending on the extent of damage, bonding costs between $100 and $700 per tooth. Most of the time, a chip can be repaired with bonding in one short visit!
To repair a tooth using dental bonding, your dentist will clean and dry the tooth being treated then use an acidic etching solution to create a rough surface for the composite bonding to adhere to. The bonding material is applied and shaped to match your other teeth. The material is then cured with an ultraviolet light, smoothed and polished. Your dentist will then make sure that your bite is unaffected and make adjustments where necessary.
Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are typically made from porcelain or ceramic and fit over the entire exposed surface of the tooth all the way to the gum line. Dental crowns are used for large decay or fractured teeth but can also be used for teeth that have a chip that is too large for dental bonding. Crowns can also be made from gold or other base metals. Depending on the material used, dental crowns can cost between $750 and $2500 per tooth.
Crowns are placed by removing any decay and as well as a very small layer of the exterior enamel on the affected tooth. This allows the crown space to fit between neighboring teeth. Some dentists have the technology to fabricate your crown in the office while you wait so your treatment can be completed in one visit! If they use a dental lab, they will place a temporary crown but you will need to return in 2 to 3 weeks to have your permanent crown placed.
Porcelain Veneers
Unlike crowns, veneers only cover the front surface of an anterior tooth, just the surface that shows when you smile. They are fabricated and placed the same as a crown and are a more expensive restoration, costing between $850 and $3000 per tooth.
Sometimes a tooth chips or breaks in a manner that is too deep to be repaired without first being treated with root canal therapy. If you require a root canal, your dentist will send you to an endodontist for treatment. A root canal can cost between $500 and $1500 per tooth. After the root canal is complete, your dentist can restore the tooth!