Fix a Chipped Tooth With a Dental Veneer

When you have a chipped tooth, a dental veneer is a quick way to repair it. Chipping your tooth can happen at any time. If it happens to you and the chip is big, a trip to the dentist is necessary. Getting a dental veneer can do more than just bring back the structure of your tooth. It can even strengthen and protect it. If you want to understand how a dental veneer can repair a chipped tooth, here are the facts.

The consultation

Fixing a chipped tooth starts with a consultation. The patient will tell the dentist what happened and what the patient wants to achieve. Then, the dentist will check the condition of the chipped tooth. This will clarify if a veneer is suitable to fix the tooth. The dentist will also discuss the procedures and limitations of getting veneers. Once the patient qualifies for veneers, the dentist will take an X-ray and an impression of the chipped tooth.

The preparation

On the next dental checkup, the dentist will prepare the chipped tooth for the dental veneer. The dentist will remove about 0.3-1.22 millimeters of enamel from the patient’s tooth. To avoid pain, the dentist will administer local anesthesia to numb the surrounding area of the chipped tooth. The thin veneer will replace the lost layer of enamel.

It usually takes around two to four weeks for the lab to finish the dental veneer. If the porcelain veneer is ready by the second visit, the dentist will attach the veneer to the chipped tooth. If not, the dentist will attach a temporary veneer to it. This will protect the tooth while the patient waits for the permanent dental veneer.

The bonding

This usually happens on the third visit. The dentist will remove the temporary veneer. Then, the dentist will place, remove, and trim the porcelain dental veneer to ensure that it fits. The dentist will also match the dental veneer to the natural surrounding teeth.

The dentist will clean and etch the chipped tooth. Etching it will roughen its surface to make sure that the bond between the veneer and the patient’s chipped tooth. The custom-fit dental veneer will attach the veneer to the patient’s chipped tooth. To fix the veneer to the tooth, the dentist will expose it to a special curing light. This light will harden the cement right away.

The dentist will then remove excess bonding cement. To make sure that the veneer presents a tooth that is as good as new, the dentist will make necessary adjustments. The dentist may ask the patient to come back for a follow-up checkup. That way, the dentist can assess the dental veneer’s stability and placement. The dentist will also evaluate how the surrounding soft tissues are responding to the veneer.

Get a dental veneer to fix your chipped tooth

Losing a small part of your tooth is not good at all. Once the enamel chips off, your tooth’s first layer of protection weakens. To repair, restore, and reinforce your chipped tooth, talk to your dentist about dental veneers. This will be a custom-fit tooth restoration that will bring back the look and function of your tooth.

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