If you have ever chipped a tooth near the front of your mouth, you know how self-conscious it can make you feel. In fact, you may be more hesitant to smile or laugh in front of others.

There are cosmetic dental applications that are available to repair a chipped tooth and restore your confidence. Here are a few of them:

Composite Bonding Material

Dental bonding material can be molded to the chipped area of a tooth to fill in the broken portion. The bonding material is applied in a pliable state and hardened onto the tooth using an ultraviolet light. Once the material becomes hard, the repaired tooth can be used to chew food just as it could before it was damaged. Additionally, dental composite bonding material can be matched to the color of the broken tooth so that the repair is not noticeable.

Dental Veneers

A dental veneer is a tooth-shaped shell that can be made of resin or porcelain. It is affixed to the front of the broken tooth to conceal the damage and give the illusion of a perfect tooth. Since the chip only requires one tooth to be covered by the veneer, the veneer is matched to the color of your other teeth to ensure that the repair is not noticeable.

The placement of a veneer usually requires a bit of preparation for the treated tooth. First, your dentist makes a mold or oppression of your mouth, so the veneer has a natural shape and fits the contours of your mouth perfectly. In addition, a small portion of the front of the tooth is shaved away to allow the veneer to fit flush with the other teeth in your mouth.

Some porcelain veneers do not require the removal of any tooth material. These veneers, which are described as "prep-less," can be installed quickly and without anesthesia, since the front surface of the tooth remains fully intact.

Porcelain Crown

A cracked tooth can also be treated by a porcelain crown, which covers the entire exposed area of the tooth. It also reinforces the tooth to lessen the chance that the cracked tooth will incur further damage.

Porcelain looks almost identical to your natural tooth material. It is white and translucent. The exact shade of white can be matched to your other teeth as it can with other cosmetic applications.

A porcelain crown can be prepared in a dental lab from a dental impression of your mouth. However, some dental offices have new technological equipment that allows the crown to be fabricated from digital imaging using a 3D imaging machine onsite.

To learn more options to correct the look of a chipped tooth, schedule an appointment with a cosmetic dentist like Dr. Jerry F. Maymi & Associates.