If you have a chipped tooth, you may be concerned about the way that it affects your appearance. Chipped teeth, especially those located near the front of the mouth, can make your teeth look less uniform. Still, there are effective cosmetic dental treatments for a chipped tooth. Here are a few of them:

Composite Bonding Material

Composite dental bonding material can be applied to a chipped tooth to fill in the portion that is missing. The bonding material, which is made of a soft resin, can be added to the tooth during a single dental appointment.

The material, which can be matched to the color of the natural portion of the tooth, can make the tooth look uniform again. Since the color and contours of the composite material will be formed to match those of the damaged tooth, the repaired tooth looks completely natural after its restoration.

Dental Veneers

Dental veneers can also be used to restore the appearance of a chipped tooth. A veneer is a slender piece of dental ceramic material that can be bonded to the front surface of a tooth. Once in place, the underlying tooth is hidden by the veneer. Thus, the crack or chip in the tooth is also concealed.

Like other porcelain dental products, veneers can be constructed in the desired shade, so a veneer that is used to conceal a chipped tooth and can be matched to the color of the patient's other teeth. The natural translucency of porcelain makes it a great material for a tooth restoration. It is virtually indistinguishable from natural tooth enamel.

Porcelain Crowns

A chipped tooth can also be restored using a porcelain crown.  Since the crown envelops the entire exposed portion of the tooth, it offers more protection and structural support than other restorative cosmetic applications.

If the chip has exposed the deeper layers of the tooth, such as the dentin or the pulp, a crown is probably the best option. When the deeper layers of a tooth become accessible to oral bacteria, a dental infection is more likely to result. By covering the tooth with a dental crown, the dentist lessens the likelihood of a bacterial invasion. In addition, the chance of the tooth becoming more damaged due to its compromised structure from the chip decreases.

To learn more ways to correct the appearance of a chipped tooth, schedule a consultation with a cosmetic dentist in your area.