Treating Chipped Teeth with Porcelain Veneers
Chipped or cracked teeth can detract from the aesthetics of your smile, but they can also compromise your oral health. Patients with damaged teeth can restore their smiles with restorative and cosmetic dentistry treatments.
Porcelain veneers are a popular cosmetic treatment that conceal aesthetic imperfections. These ultra-thin shells are crafted from layers of medical-grade ceramic and are incredibly strong and durable.
Here, our Nashville, TN dental team discusses how we can treat chipped teeth with porcelain veneers and explains what patients can expect during the treatment process.
What Causes Chipped Teeth?
There are several reasons why the teeth may develop chips or cracks. Some of these include:
- Trauma: Automobile accidents, falls, and sports-related injuries can lead to chipped or damaged teeth.
- Malocclusion: If you have a bite that is misaligned, the uneven, excess pressure can cause chipping, cracks, and other forms of damage.
- Bruxism: Teeth grinding or clenching is a chronic condition that can wear away the protective enamel. If left untreated, the teeth may eventually chip.
- Cavities: Tooth decay weakens the tooth structure. As a result, the teeth may break or chip.
- Poor oral hygiene: Inadequate hygiene can make you more susceptible to dental damage, especially if the enamel has already eroded.
Potential Dangers of Chipped Teeth
Chipped teeth can affect the overall appearance of your smile. In fact, chipped teeth can make an otherwise beautiful smile look unhealthy.
More importantly, however, chipped teeth can compromise the integrity of the tooth structure. When this happens, the teeth are more vulnerable to chips, cracks, fractures, decay, and infection.
Even a small chip can have a negative impact on your overall oral health. Therefore, it is important to address these issues as soon as possible.
Treating Chipped Teeth with Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are one of the most popular treatments for chipped teeth. Because veneers are designed to color-match your surrounding teeth, they create a brilliant, balanced, beautiful smile that can transform your overall appearance.
Before placing veneers, Dr. Newman will remove a small amount of enamel from the affected teeth, typically less than one millimeter. This increases the bonding surface and makes room for your veneers.
Next, impressions will be taken. These will be used by a trained dental lab technician to fabricate the veneers according to your unique dental anatomy. Generally, this process takes about two to three weeks to complete. In the meantime, your dentist will place temporary veneers to protect the teeth.
Once your veneers are ready, we will schedule you for a try-on appointment. Dr. Newman will assess the color and fit of your new veneers. If everything looks good, he will bond them into place and make any necessary adjustments.
Exploring Candidacy for Veneers
To qualify for veneers, patients must be free from gum disease or extensive decay. If any restorative procedures are required, they will be performed prior to veneer placement.
Contact Gulch Dental Studio
Are chipped teeth keeping you from achieving your best smile? If so, find out how porcelain veneers can help. For more information, contact us online or call our office at (615) 334-0184 or (615) 385-3507.
