Is it possible to fix a very small chip in a front tooth using composite bonding without drilling away the remaining enamel?

Question

I have a very minor chip in my front tooth caused by an fall earlier today. My teeth are already a bit shorter than I'd like. I am definitely not willing to undergo drastic procedures like veneers to lengthen them; I just don't want them to become any shorter! I wear a night guard and have not had any problems with grinding since I started using it a few years ago. Is there any way to use just bonding without drilling to fill in a very small chip (less than 1mm) on the edge of an incisor?

Vachik Danoukh, DMD · Answer

Hi from Hillsboro, Oregon!  You mentioned at the onset, that the chip was caused by a fall. It was not caused by biting into an apple and it seems like you have take precautions by wearing a bite guard and take good care of your teeth. Your dentist can simply use composite bonding and that will take care of the chip. He does not need to reduce the size of the tooth. It is a simple fix for you and I would go for it and not make this complicated!  Get it bonded!

Neal Nealis, DDS (retired) · Answer

Small chips can be quickly fixed using bonding materials; however these materials are predominantly plastic and will not last your lifetime.  I have found the best solution to small chips on front teeth is to have a laboratory technician create a small piece of porcelain with the precise shape and color of the missing piece.  This porcelain can be bonded to replace the small chip and often requires little additional tooth reduction.  This makes it far kinder to the tooth while offering greater durability and longevity than bonding.

N. Summer Lerch, DDS, FAGD - Account Suspended · Answer

Small chips on the biting edge of the tooth are hard to fix.  Just being there on the edge that gets all the force of the bite when you chomp into a green apple, corn on the cob, or into a french bread sandwich, etc, causes much concern for us dentists.  Your dentist will need to take extra step to ensure that the bonding does not chip or wear off faster than predicted.  I have not had a lot of success with those types of repairs.  Be aware of what the dentist puts there.  Alter your biting a little to remove any functional bite pressure from that tooth. Move apples to the side.  If you have a night guard, wear it now. Take every precaution the doc tells you to heart if you if you are going to "fix" the chip.  Good luck!

Thomas Roberts, DDS (retired) · Answer

It is difficult to say without seeing the chipped area but it is likely a dentist can fill this area with composite.  It would probably be helpful to slightly abrade the area for retention but again, that depends on the nature of the chip.  Talk with your dentist about your concerns and I'm sure you can find a solution that will make you comfortable.  Good luck!

Is it possible to fix a very small chip in a front tooth using composite bonding without drilling away the remaining enamel?

Answers (4)

Answer: Lils2

Answer: Lils2

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Is it possible to fix a very small chip in a front tooth using composite bonding without drilling away the remaining enamel?

Answers (4)

Answer: Lils2

Answer: Lils2

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tooth Repair

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.