Cracks and chips in your teeth can be minor or severe. Some are surface level but cause your teeth to become stained, and others are more severe, causing pain and allowing bacteria to enter the pulp of your tooth. Whether it's for cosmetic purposes or to save your teeth, there are options to correct your cracked and chipped teeth. Click here for info or check out these three solutions, and find the best one for you.

Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is a common procedure that is used to fix a wide variety of problems including cracks and chips. To fix cracks in your enamel, the tooth-colored resin material is placed on the surface of your teeth to create a new smooth, crack-free surface. To fix chips, the resin is placed on the chip and shaped to look like your natural tooth. The resin is cured with a special light and bonds to your teeth.

Advantages:

• Dental bonding is the least expensive solution and costs an average of $100 to $400 per tooth.
• The material can be shaded to match the exact color of your other teeth.
• Little to no tooth structure is removed during the process.

Disadvantages:

• While the resin is white, it is not translucent, so it does not look exactly like natural teeth.
• The material is also not as strong as natural teeth or other options, making it less durable.
• Bonding is more prone to stains and chipping.

When to Choose Dental Bonding:

If you have minor chips or cracks in your teeth and want an inexpensive solution that provides excellent results, choose dental bonding However, keep in mind that you will need to have the bonding redone or replaced with something else in a few short years.

Porcelain Veneers

A veneer is a thin cover that is placed over the surface of a structure to provide a beautiful, clean appearance. Porcelain veneers do this for your teeth. The dentist files away the front enamel, and a porcelain veneer is bonded to the tooth to provide a perfect, natural, white and straight appearance.

Advantages:

• Porcelain has the same translucency as natural teeth, so they look completely natural.
• Porcelain veneers are more durable and stronger than bonding resin, so they last years longer.
• They are resistant to stains.

Disadvantages:

• A large portion of the front surface of your teeth must be removed to hold the veneers.
• Veneers are more expensive than bonding, averaging $925 to $2,500 per tooth.
• Veneers cannot be whitened, so choose a color with which you will be happy for years.

When to Choose Porcelain Veneers:

If you have mild to moderately cracked or chipped front teeth, but overall, your teeth are strong, veneers are a great option. They provide a natural smile, but be aware that veneers are not reversible. Enamel is permanently removed.

Porcelain Crowns

Like veneers, porcelain crowns create a fake but perfect surface. However, crowns cover every surface of your tooth. The process requires more tooth enamel to be removed, but for weak teeth, it strengthens them and protects them from breaking or requiring extraction.

Advantages:

• They strengthen and protect teeth that have become week from decay, fillings, trauma or root canals.
• They cover all surfaces of your teeth and can be placed on the front and back teeth.
• Crowns also do a great job of correcting mild to moderately crooked/gapped teeth.

Disadvantages:

• Like veneers, crowns are expensive. They cost an average of $500-$2,500 per tooth.
• Even though crowns protect your teeth from bacteria, they are still susceptible to decay at the gum line.
• Getting crowns may actually cause trauma to your teeth, causing you to need a root canal in the future.

When to Choose Porcelain Crowns:

Crowns are an excellent option if you have severely cracked or chipped teeth, or your teeth are weak from large fillings or decay because they protect your teeth. However, like veneers, they are not reversible.

Don't struggle with cracked or chipped teeth any longer. There are solutions to repair your smile. If you're ready for a more beautiful and healthy smile, contact a local cosmetic dentist today and schedule a consultation.