Accidentally chipped off a portion of my front tooth (corner portion of my cutting tooth) (Photo)

Question

I slipped and fell last week and a corner portion of my front tooth was broken. X-rays showed that the root hasn't been damaged. I visited 4 dental clinics and 3 of them suggested bonding. One of the dentists told me that the bonding might break in 3 months even or last upto 10 yrs & that even burgers can damage it and coke can lead to discoloration. Is that a reliable answer? Or should I go for another dentist? Also, can an endodontist do bonding well enough or is cosmetic dentist a must?

Vicki Borowski, DDS · Answer

Thanks for posting the picture. I'm confused because your mentioned that the root wasn't damnaged but you also mentioned visiting an endodontist. Bonding can be a very good long term repair for this tooth. You will need to be cautious biting into food such as apples, pizza and burgers. The bonded corner will be fragile. You will also notice that the corner may stain over time. Foods such as coffee, red wine, mustard and curry can all stain bonding. I suggest you should give the bonding a try. If you have problems with it fracturing you can move up to a crown or veneer, which may offer more stability but would require more aggressive tooth removal.

Gigi Meinecke, DMD · Answer

Since the x-ray showed that the nerve was not affected by the fracture, bonding would be a good option.  Since the front of your mouth is a "high traffic area," where you bite into food, there will always be a risk that the bonding could fail---But most bonded fillings in the front of the mouth enjoy excellent long-term success rates when placed properly.  Yes, they can discolor over time but most newer bonding materials have a very good track record in resisting stain. Bonding is a very common procedure and nearly all general dentists are proficient in this type of treatment.

Joel Klasfeld, DDS · Answer

Composite bonding is a quick fix that may last a long time or may not as your dentist mentioned.  I suggest to go ahead and bond the tooth.  It can always be redone.  Also, you are not compromising anything if you decide to place a veneer later.  Always a good idea to have this procedure done by a cosmetic dentist or a dentist that has experience with this.

Accidentally chipped off a portion of my front tooth (corner portion of my cutting tooth) (Photo)

Answers (3)

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Everything you need to know about Tooth Repair

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Accidentally chipped off a portion of my front tooth (corner portion of my cutting tooth) (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.