4 Options To Fix Chipped Teeth

Don’t live with broken or chipped teeth. No more telling yourself it’s okay or that you have to live with it because you have no options. Here are four easy tips to fixing that chipped tooth you have. 

1. Smooth the jagged edge

a. “This is the easiest and most cost efficient option,” suggests Dr. Judy Strutz. “While this is not always possible depending on how bad, the tooth is damaged it is definitely something to look into.”

2. Place a veneer

a. Veneers are a beautiful tooth like covering that goes over your normal tooth. When done, your tooth will look and feel like a natural tooth and will restore your smile to one that stuns them all. Veneers are an option that is available even if you have damaged multiple teeth. 

3. Place a tooth-colored filling - tooth colored 

a. A tooth colored filling can also be an option. This depends on the location of the chipped tooth and how big the chip is. This can restore the function of your tooth by filling in the cracked area. 

4. A crown 

a. A crown will not only restore your smile to its natural state, it will also allow you to consume foods you may have been prohibited from devouring due to a chipped tooth. Crowns cover the entire tooth, and will help to ensure the strength of your tooth. 

For more information on which choice will best fit your needs, contact Dr. Judith Strutz & her team today. 

My Teeth Are Chipped. What Are My Options?

   Despite your best efforts, do you have cracked teeth? Are you embarrassed to smile because your teeth are chipped? There are several options available to you depending on the severity of your problem. Prosthodontist, Dr. Judy Strutz suggests, "If you have very minor chipping you may be able to have a procedure called smoothing done.  Small amounts of the tooth are reshaped to help restore the look of your tooth. This procedure can be completed in one visit and usually does not result in any discomfort. 

   If you are struggling with one minor chipped tooth, a tooth colored filling may be used in order to help it blend in with your other teeth.  This procedure is relatively easy, and generally takes one visit.

          
  "For more severely chipped teeth you might want to consider veneers," says Dr. Judy Strutz. While some patients believe that this procedure is purely for cosmetic use, veneers help restore the quality of your smile and may also help protect against further damage. Veneers are a thin, custom layer that matches the color of your other teeth. It provides a very natural look and improves the overall look.

         
  If none of the above are options, if might be time to have a crown fitted to restore the tooth to full chewing, biting and cosmetic function. 

There are pro’s and con’s to each choice. When the decision is made, you’ll want the most naturally looking choice that is cost efficient and, depending on the severity and number of chipped teeth, will provide you with the best long lasting result. Choose today to improve your smile tomorrow.

Drug Abuse & Your Smile

Dr. Strutz and her team believe in supporting you to rebuild your life and your smile. A history of drug abuse & dental neglect may have impacted your smile.  Drug abuse can leave you with stained, chipped, cracked, decayed and damaged teeth causing you an extreme amount of pain. But Dr. Strutz and her team can fix the dental issues you are experiencing and she and her team will help you restore your smile.

 Decay that has been left untreated can go below the gum line and cause inflammation, infection, bleeding and tooth loss. As the decay continues to spread to other teeth your smile you can be further impacted. Dr. Strutz will work quickly and efficiently to get your smile back to where it was and to get you out of pain.

The team at Judith Strutz & Associates is not there to judge you or embarrass you. They are there to help you rebuild your life starting with a smile you can be proud to show off. Putting your life back together after drug abuse can take time, but having a gorgeous smile can help improve your chances of finding a job and worthwhile relationships, and the health of your smile can improve the health of your body. Call Dr. Strutz and her team today & let them restore your smile.

Bonding A Tooth

 If Dr. Strutz is going to use a bond to restore a chipped tooth, she will first analyze your entire smile. She believes in a comprehensive plan to fixing your teeth, not just solving one problem at a time without understanding the cause behind the problem. After the root cause is determined she will determine the best color choice for the bond. The purpose will be to match the color of the bond to the rest of your teeth as closely as possible.

Bonding material is a hard resin that attaches to the enamel of the teeth. An etching gel will be placed on the teeth first. This gel allows for the bond to better attach to the tooth.  Then, a dental resin is placed and then bonding material is placed on the tooth and the area is shaped. You may need a few layers depending on the size of the area being bonded. Throughout the process an ultraviolent light is used to harden the bonding material. Shaping of the bonded area is required in order to make sure the occlusion / bite is correct. For example, if you had too much bonding, it would need to be taken down some to protect your bite.

This process does not take long and shortly after Dr. Strutz will have you well on your way to impressing everyone with a fantastic, restored smile.

 

Restore Your Occlusion:

Prosthodontist are able to complete a variety of restorations in order to get your mouth back in working order.   Prosthodontist attend dental school and then receive an extra years of specialized schooling. Dr. Strutz is a graduate of Loma Linda and provides extensive support to you as a patient prior to any procedure.  When you first visit her office, with a chipped tooth, doesn’t panic she will work with you to provide the best fit.

When you have chipped teeth it usually means that your bite is off. This can occur for multiple reasons. Your jaw may not be lining up correctly, so when you bite down your biting down on top of other teeth. Your jaw should be in a state of rest when your mouth is closed.

When fixing your chipped tooth, Dr. Judy Strutz, recommends first taking a look at your bite. If she spends time fixing your chipped tooth but your bite is still “off” as soon as you leave the office, your run the risk of chipping that tooth again.  The idea is to not just fix one tooth, but to assure your bite is correct as well.

Once, Dr. Strutz has completed a full exam and has determined the best course of action, she may be able to re-contour, readjust or perhaps bond the tooth.