Chipped Tooth
Houston TX
 If you have a chipped tooth, it can easily be repaired with a cosmetic dental procedure referred to as dental bonding. Bonding is simple and painless. It involves the dentist applying a composite resin to your chipped tooth to repair it. The resin is tooth colored and will look natural, to repair the damage of your tooth. This method is sought after since it is relatively inexpensive compared to other dental procedures, such as veneers or crowns, and does not require invasive surgery. If you require a tooth bonding procedure, our staff at Alexandra Garcia, DDS, MS is here to help you.
How Does Tooth Bonding Work?
It also can be performed in only one dental visit, making it one of the easiest orthodontic surgeries to perform. Like all visits, you will first have to undergo a physical exam and a possible x-ray to ensure no other damage was done to the tooth. If there is no extensive damage to the tooth, our team will continue with the tooth bonding procedure.
Our staff will inspect the tooth and match the color with a composite resin that will be applied. The tooth surface will be roughened and, most times, evened out to ensure a successful procedure. A bonding liquid is then applied to the tooth, which will ensure the composite resin stays on and hardens correctly. The composite resin is then placed on the bonding liquid, where it is then shaped and molded to look as close to your natural adjacent teeth. Once we get the molding perfect, ultraviolet light is used to harden the composite resin and to completely dry the bonding liquid. We will then inspect the tooth to ensure it matches, otherwise further shaping will be performed. A light polish will then be performed to match the surrounding teeth.
A tooth bonding procedure only takes between 30-60 minutes to complete. If you need several teeth bonded, if you have more than one chipped tooth, this may require multiple visits to complete each one. After a tooth bonding is completed, there is no recovery time and you can resume normal daily activities.
Risks Associated With Tooth Bonding
Since tooth bonding is a non-invasive procedure, there are relatively few risks associated with it. The highest risk you face is that the tooth may chip or break if you bite into anything too hard. The composite resin placed on the tooth is not nearly as strong as the natural tooth, which is why it is more likely to chip or break than other procedures such as a crown or veneers. This may require a slight change in chewing habits, foods you can consume, and bad habits such as biting your nails or on pens, or biting into foods such as apples and corn on the cob.
Your bonding is also more susceptible to staining, especially within the first 48 hours after the procedure. We recommend avoiding foods and beverages that cause staining, such as tea, coffee and wine, as well as avoiding smoking tobacco. After the first 48 hours, you can resume these products with little to no adverse effects. The bonding material requires just as much attention and care as your natural teeth, so good oral hygiene habits are necessary to keep the material from discoloring.
Tooth bonding is a simple fix that is also known to be an inexpensive way to repair your chipped, slightly cracked, or discolored teeth. If you think this is the best procedure for you, contact our Alexandra Garcia, DDS, MS office today at (346) 250-2930 to schedule an appointment. We will provide you with the best dental treatments so you can get your radiant smile back. |
