What Is the Best Treatment for Chipped or Cracked Teeth?

Have you accidentally chipped a tooth while chewing on hard candy or ice? Or maybe you’ve broken a tooth while playing high-contact sports? If so, then you’ll need the expertise of a skilled emergency dentist.

At Fairfax Family Dental Care, our team of highly-trained professionals have been handling dental emergencies for over 30 years in Fairfax, VA. With cutting-edge technology, quality materials, and advanced techniques, our dentists can easily treat and repair most damaged smiles.

If you’ve recently damaged your smile, then you might be wondering: What is the best treatment for chipped teeth? In this blog post, our knowledgeable team will explore three ways to repair and protect chipped or cracked teeth.

Chipped vs. Cracked Teeth

Although the terms are often used interchangeably, there is a distinct difference between chipped teeth vs. cracked teeth.

A chipped tooth results in superficial breakage that doesn’t extend toward the root or pulp of a tooth. A cracked tooth results in deep fractures that can spread across the tooth and extend toward the root and pulp.

A cracked tooth requires more immediate attention compared to a chipped tooth. However, patients should visit our emergency dentists as soon as possible to get an accurate assessment of the damage.

Treating Chipped or Cracked Teeth

Typically, a chipped tooth is easier to repair than a cracked tooth, but they may share similar treatment options, including:

• Dental fillings
• Dental crowns
• Porcelain veneers

Dental Fillings

Our team can fill in superficial chips with a durable composite resin material known as dental fillings or dental bonding. The resin material closely resembles the color and appearance of natural teeth so patients can discreetly repair their damaged smiles.

Cracked teeth require dental fillings to prevent harmful bacteria from traveling toward the sensitive, nerve-dense pulp in the center. Composite resin fillings fill in fractures, fortifying the tooth, preventing further damage, and limiting the risk of a tooth infection.

Dental Crowns

A dental crown is a protective cap that completely encompasses a damaged tooth. Crowns offer superior dental protection, which is why some patients choose tooth crowns over dental bonding for chipped teeth.

Dental professionals frequently treat cracked teeth with dental crowns. In some cases, a dentist might recommend fixing a cracked tooth with both a dental filling and a dental crown, depending on the extent of the damage.

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are razor-thin shells of dental-grade ceramic that not only enhance the appearance of irregular teeth but also protect them from damage. Veneers are a popular option to enhance and protect teeth damaged by chips or cracks.

Patients can get porcelain veneers in addition to or instead of dental bonding for chipped teeth. The treatment covers superficial damage, and protects the front surface of the tooth from further damage.

Patients with cracked teeth may choose to cover damaged teeth with cosmetic veneers. However, these patients must have the tooth crack completely filled before veneer treatment. Otherwise, the delicate pulp inside teeth will remain vulnerable to bacterial infections.

Need An Emergency Dentist? Don’t Wait - Call Us Now

When it comes to treating dental damage, time is of the essence. We’ll help you choose the right treatment for chipped teeth vs. cracked teeth today. So, don’t delay - schedule an appointment with the emergency team at Fairfax Family Dental Care by calling (703) 385-0303 or by sending us a message now.