Small chip in the front tooth, what should I do? (Photo)

Question

I have noticed a small chip in my front tooth at the bottom (circled in photo). I'm not sure what to do, i'm slightly paranoid that it will get bigger in time. Is there anything that can be done to fix it.

Paul D. Kantor, DDS · Answer

I think shortening and recontouring your tooth, also called enamelplasty ( shaping the enamel ), is a good idea in your case. This should provide much improvement for very little time and expense. This chip is too small to bond successfully. As for what’s the cause of the chip, find an experienced dentist who does comprehensive exams (not the five or ten minute exams some dentists do), this should include at least full mouth x-rays (not just four bite-wing x-rays). See what this doctor recommends. A good initial exam could be less than $300, so that would be the place to start.

John A. Merrill, DDS · Answer

Great question and a good photo to help us respond. Your front upper and lower teeth show typical signs of wear. As the enamel is worn down the darker middle is exposed that is a much softer dentin substructure. This wears faster and the exposed edges of the harder enamel begin to chip away.That is what you are seeing on many of your front teeth now. Left untreated this will continue to worsen and as your front teeth wear down your back teeth experience more lateral stresses and will also wear down, crack, and fracture. This is common to many adults as we get older. The common methods to slow and even reverse this occlusal breakdown are to rebuild the edges in composite or porcelain and to reduce future wear with plastic mouth guards that you wear down instead of your own body parts. Sometimes orthodontics is a benefit to better align the teeth as well.These are more advanced issues that many dentists do not receive training in dental school. Find a dentist that can diagnose this for you, assess your long term risks, and offer you different options to manage as well. Good luck

Gina Franco, DDS - Account Suspended · Answer

Hello, 
Don't be scared or worried, what you are perceiving has simple solution. The small fracture in your central has the same cause as an overall wear that I can evidence in your teeth. You seem to be grinding unconsciously maybe. You need to get treatment for this bruxism because if not, even if you fix this fracture, other will eventually keep appearing. For this particular fracture, your doctor can file down a little your incisal border because the fracture is too small for it to be fixed with material like composite resin. The material needs more space to have good retention and if not it will keep falling of. If they file it down a little with some polishing disks this will also help align a little all your borders and give you a more proportional smile.

Dr. Franco

Small chip in the front tooth, what should I do? (Photo)

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Everything you need to know about Tooth Repair

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Small chip in the front tooth, what should I do? (Photo)

Answers (3)

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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.