Fixing Chipped/Broken Teeth

Do you have a chipped tooth?

Do you have a broken tooth?

Here at Seaman Family Dentistry, we repair all variations of chipped and broken teeth. The first thing you should know is that this condition should not be ignored. Chipped or broken teeth need treatment and are at higher risk for further problems. Act quickly and schedule an appointment to handle this problem.

How do you fix chipped or broken teeth?

Well, the answer to that question depends on the size and location of the chip or break. You may have a very slight, almost unnoticeable chip, or your tooth could be broken off at the gumline; so the services necessary to repair your tooth are going to vary. The following will discuss each type of chipped or broken tooth condition and the typical service utilized to repair the tooth.

• Minor chips, which are more likely felt than seen, can either be just smoothed by our dentist or a composite filling material can be used to fill in the missing piece.

• Small chips on front teeth can also usually be repaired using composite filling material to fill in and reshape the tooth, similar to having a filling done to restore a decayed tooth. See the example photos below showing a chipped tooth and the same tooth after it was repaired using composite filling material.

• Larger chipped or broken front teeth, where a composite filling would not have enough remaining tooth structure to provide support for the replacement material, typically require a dental veneer or crown to restore the tooth.

• Chipped or broken back teeth are typically cannot be repaired with composite filling material, since most of these situations involve at least one cusp of the tooth. Since most of your chewing force comes from your back teeth, a filling used to replace the cusp of a tooth would likely break off. To properly fix a chipped or broken back tooth, a crown is the best option, for it will not only fix the tooth but will also restore its chewing function and strength.
• If you have a more severe broken tooth, where the tooth has broken at or below the gumline, a crown alone may not be enough to repair the tooth. You could be in a situation where the tooth also needs a root canal before a crown can be done. In addition, you may need other services to provide more surface for a crown to be placed on. Many people think if the tooth is broken off at the gumline, it automatically needs to be removed. This is not always the case; many times, posts can be placed into the root of the tooth (after a root canal has been done) to provide a surface to attach a crown to it. Also, a service called “crown lengthening” may be utilized to allow a crown to attach to more of the root section of the tooth.

Unfortunately, not all broken or split teeth can be repaired. If the break, split or crack extends too far below the gumline, then the remaining tooth or root may need to be removed and replaced. Depending on the condition of your surrounding teeth, remaining bone support and other factors, you may need an implant or a bridge to replace the tooth.

If you currently have a chipped or broken tooth, we urge you to contact us right away and schedule an appointment. Dr. Robert Seaman will examine the tooth and discuss what services will be needed to repair your tooth. You should not put this off. Many broken teeth involve tooth decay and exposure of the inner portion of the tooth which can cause more sensitivity, cause tooth to decay faster and increase the risk of involving the tooth nerve. So, call 913-631-2626 today and schedule your appointment with our dentist, to address your chipped or broken tooth in Lenexa, Kansas.