Best Tooth Restoration Options

For adults the worst thing that can happen is chipping or breaking a tooth for adults the tooth can never grow back so what methods of restoration are available?

1. Can a broken tooth grow back?

This will depend on the type of tooth broken:

l Milk Tooth: A chipped or broken milk tooth will not grow back, therefore if the milk tooth is damaged then you can only protect is until it’s time for the permanent teeth to come in.

l Permanent Tooth: If a permanent tooth is broken it will never grow back and can only be restored.

2. What should you do if you have a broken tooth?  

Once you discover your tooth is broken you should got a dental clinic as soon as possible for an oral examination to check how badly damaged the tooth is. Depending on the degree of damage different restoration methods are available:

l Composite Restoration: This is suitable for cases where only half the tooth is broken and the damaged surface is small. Composite can be used to fill or bond the damaged area to restore its appearance.

l Root Canal Treatment: If a tooth is broken or damaged and has already reached the pulp tissue and dental nerve this will cause pulpitis and periapical periodontitis. In these types of cases root canal treatment will need to be carried out before restoration can be done.

l Porcelain Veneers: Veneers are used when more than half of the tooth is broken. A thin layer of enamel will be removed before the veneers are placed onto the tooth to cover the damaged tooth.

l Tooth Extraction: This is the last option and is only used when the tooth cannot be saved because the tooth root is damaged. After extracting the tooth patients can consider dentures or dental implants to replace the tooth. 

Composite Fillings & Restoration For Front Teeth

Composite materials are a popular choice for clients as they match the color of natural teeth and is aesthetically pleasing. So is composite material a good choice for fillings and restorations on the front teeth? Generally speaking composite materials can be used for small areas of damage to teeth such as fillings and can provide very good results.

Below are the top reasons which composite materials are popular:

1. Costs: Normal composite filling costs between over 300 RMB to 400 RMB per tooth and is cheaper than inlays.

2. Natural Color: Different brands of composite materials offer a range of colors and shade. Depending on the different area that require fillings there is a color to match the area. Therefore, this means that the restoration is natural looking.

3. Convenience of Composite Materials: Compared to inlays which require molds to be taken and sent to be made, composite fillings are quick and easy to carry out. The composite mixture is put into the cavity and is then cured by a light and is set. For small composite fillings it takes only approximately 30 minutes to complete.

However, there are certain scenarios where composite fillings is not a suitable option and this is when a professional dentist’s advice is vital.

1. When a gap between the teeth is too wide or when a cavity surface is too large then composite materials are not a good option as it will become loose more easily.

2. Using composite materials for fillings and restorations will depend on the dentist’s skills and techniques. Therefore, it’s important to see a professional dental clinic and dentist to carry out the procedure.

How to Fix a Broken Tooth

What methods of repair are available for a broken tooth? The most commonly used methods are composite resin, porcelain veneers and dental crowns. However, which method of repair is best will depend on how badly damaged your tooth is.

How can the tooth be fixed?

Whether or not a tooth can be repaired will depend on how deep the crack is, if the crack has reached below the gum line then there is the possibility that the tooth can’t be preserved. In these cases there is already no point in attempting to preserve the tooth. As for teeth that are chipped the dentist will advise which method of repair is most suitable.

Composite, veneer or dental crown?

1. If it’s only a minor chip then using composite resin is the best option and the shade of the composite resin can match that of you natural teeth color.

2. Veneers can also be considered for chipped teeth as it covers the complete surface of the damaged tooth and there is an option between composite veneers or porcelain veneers.

3. For a tooth which has a considerably larger part missing then using veneers will not give good results. Also the dentist will need to take into consideration that there is possible damage to the root of the tooth. In such cases a dental crown would be the best option. The dental crown is fitted over the natural tooth like a cap and provide overall protection to the tooth.

The three methods of repair mentioned are the most commonly used. However, with veneers and dental crowns enamel will have to be removed from the natural tooth so it is considered more invasive than composite resin repair. With both veneers and dental crowns once the enamel has been removed it can’t be undone so patients must be aware before making their decision.

The Costs of Composite Bonding

When looking for an alternative to repair front teeth a lot of patients are not too keen about enamel removal when it comes to veneers and crowns. Therefore, that is where composite bonding is often chosen, so just how much does composite bonding cost?

Composite bonding can repair front teeth gaps and chipped teeth providing very good results. Composite bonding with the use of good materials and skilled techniques of the dentist can provide patients with natural looking results.

Due to work commitments some patients cannot commit to treatment such as orthodontics, so may choose composite bonding instead. Composite bonding in comparison to ordinary fillings requires more equipment such as such as rubber dams, magnifying glasses and repair tools. Usually the shade will have to match the dentin, enamel and incisal halo. Therefore, comparisons of suitable materials need to be carried out. Composite bonding will also require more professional dental staff.  

Overall, composite bonding prices will be more expensive than fillings and compared with veneers, crowns and other forms of repair treatment are about the same price.

An exact cost is hard to say, composite bonding prices are based on per tooth, the cheapest composite bonding for a tooth can start at over 1,000 RMB. However, this will depend on the skills of the dentist and the overall results.

Composite bonding costs are directly linked to how many teeth are repaired. The results of composite bonding are directly linked with skills and techniques of the dentist, therefore we must emphasize that you choose a professional dental clinic and dental professional to carry out the procedure.