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Sports are a healthy way of keeping the body fit. But they can sometimes cause injuries to your teeth if you are not careful. They can chip, crack, or even break your teeth. This happened in the sports life of professional golfer Danielle Kang; he broke a tooth on the opening day of the LPGA Singapore tournament. Here are a few treatment options if your teeth have chipped.

Dental Crown

A dental crown covers the entire visible portion of the tooth above the gum line. It restores both the form and function of the damaged tooth, providing both strength and resilience. Crowns are beneficial in restoring damaged teeth, and they are often used when a tooth has had a large cavity or is fractured but still has a healthy root structure. They are also used to restore dental implants as an alternative to bridges and full dentures.

The crown is placed over the natural tooth. It can be made from a variety of materials, including ceramic, porcelain-fused-to-metal, gold alloy, and other metals and base metal alloys. Each material offers different benefits. Patients should speak with their dentist to determine which material is best suited for them based on their lifestyle and dental health needs.

Once in place, the dental crown will fully encase the tooth to provide a layer of protection from further damage. 

Tooth Bonding

Tooth bonding is a versatile tooth restoration procedure that can repair minor chips, cracks, and stains on your teeth. Bonding is sometimes referred to as a white filling because it can be used to replace areas of decay or old fillings. This treatment uses a safe, strong composite resin material that can be color-matched to your tooth, so it blends in naturally for a beautiful cosmetic improvement. After your dentist prepares the tooth by etching the surface and receiving the proper shade of bonding material, the information is applied and smoothed into shape. The material then hardens into a strong bond that effectively repairs the damaged tooth. Dental bonding can also be used to repair small gaps between teeth when veneers are not an option. The procedure is relatively short, lasting anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, and the results are immediate. However, the material is not as strong as porcelain or ceramic restorations, so you may need to replace the bonded area in the future.

Dental Veneers

A porcelain veneer is a thin covering that can cover the front and top of a tooth. The restoration is used to repair chips, cracks, discolorations, and other minor cosmetic issues. Veneers are custom-made by a professional dental lab technician to fit one tooth or multiple teeth. Once in place, veneers are permanently bonded to the facial surface of the teeth.

Veneers are made of a durable composite resin material that looks natural and mimics the appearance of enamel. They are often tinted to match a patient’s natural teeth color as closely as possible. The material also resists staining from coffee, tea, wine, and tobacco products. When properly maintained, the restorations can last for many years.

If you have questions about restoring chipped teeth, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation.