Can Tooth-Colored Fillings Fix Chipped or Cracked Teeth?

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By Maegan Elam, DDS & Associates

Do you have a cracked or damaged tooth? Apart from aesthetic issues, you might also experience sensitivity, tooth pain, and infections because of this. It’s natural for you to look for ways to fix this problem. Tooth-colored fillings can repair your chipped or cracked tooth. They will protect your teeth while bringing back the radiance of your smile.

Read this blog to learn more about these dental fillings and how they can benefit your damaged teeth.

Why Should You Choose Tooth-Colored Fillings?

Composite fillings are composed of a mixture of resin and glass particles that match your teeth’s natural color and translucency. Their advantages include:

  • The composite material bonds to the tooth itself, strengthening its structure instead of simply filling holes.
  • Unlike silver fillings, these blend in so perfectly with your teeth that they’re almost invisible.
  • Though intended for cavities, the fillings are now the first choice for fixing tiny chips and cracks.
  • In this procedure, you will have to undergo minimal drilling. The dentist will only remove the damaged part of the tooth before applying the composite material.

How Does This Filling Work For Chipped Teeth?

Do you have minor tooth chipping? Dentists can shape and mold the composite resin to fill in the missing part of your tooth.

The dentist will prepare and clean your damaged tooth. They will then apply the bonding agent to make the resin stick to your teeth. The tooth-colored filling is shaped and layered to recreate your tooth’s original shape.

A special light cures the material, providing strength, and then it is polished to give you a smooth, natural appearance.

Cracked Teeth: Can Fillings Handle the Pressure?

Cracks can be sneaky. While small surface cracks usually don’t need attention, larger cracks can be quite dangerous. If the crack is small and hasn’t invaded the inner pulp, a tooth-colored filling could be enough. It will close the crack so that bacteria cannot infect your tooth pulp.

This will give your tooth the necessary stability without extensive restoration. However, if the crack goes deep into the root, a mere filling is usually not enough to protect you.

How To Make Your Tooth-Colored Fillings Last?

You may be thinking, “Will this fix last a lifetime?” While these fillings are tough, they’re not invincible. Their durability usually relies on the following factors:

  • Pressure from biting and chewing hard foods can damage the dental material in the long run. So you should watch your diet and eating habits.
  • Good oral hygiene with brushing and flossing can keep your treated tooth intact. It won’t give bacteria an opportunity to produce damaging acids.
  • Periodic check-ups can keep your tooth stable and functional for a long time.
  • Front teeth fillings tend to have a longer life compared to molar fillings because of minimal chewing force.

A cracked or chipped tooth can easily be repaired with advanced dental solutions available today. If you have a small chip or crack, tooth-colored fillings could be your solution. 

Are you ready to bring back the beauty of your smile? Contact us today for a consultation.