My composite bonding has chipped

My composite bonding has chipped

Composite bonding is designed to fix chipped teeth easily and painlessly, but it doesn’t last forever. Sometimes your composite bonding gets chipped as well, especially if you have bad habits like using your teeth as tools. But what should you do if your composite bonding chips? Can it be fixed? Let’s explore what to do when your composite bonding chips.

What is composite bonding?

Composite bonding, also known as dental bonding, is a dental procedure where resin is applied to the surface of the teeth to fix cracks, chips or discolouration and improve the appearance of your smile. This resin is carefully sculpted and shaped by the dentist to match the natural contours of the tooth and the colour of the other teeth, and achieve the desired aesthetic result.

The process is relatively simple and quick, and is a cost-effective way of fixing minor issues with your teeth. The dentist will:

• Prepare your teeth by creating a rough texture on the surface.
• Apply a liquid bonding agent and layers of composite resin.
• Shape the resin to your teeth for the desired result.
• Cure the resin with a light to harden the material.
• Trim and polish the resin to ensure it fits in naturally with your other teeth.

Composite bonding is often used for cosmetic purposes, but can be used to resolve cracks or chips in the teeth that urgently need fixing. It is a relatively quick and minimally invasive procedure compared to other dental treatments like crowns or veneers, although it’s not as durable as these alternatives and may need to be replaced or repaired over time.

What are veneers?

Veneers are another way to improve the appearance of your teeth, but as they are a more invasive procedure, they are more expensive and a longer-lasting treatment. Like composite, or dental, bonding, veneers can be made from composite resin; however, they can also be made from porcelain, which tends to last longer but is much more expensive.

Where composite bonding involves painting a material onto your teeth and reshaping them, veneers are a custom-made shell that fits over your original teeth, which have to be shaved down to remove the enamel to allow the covering to be attached to your teeth for a natural look. With proper care, veneers can last a long time and are very resistant to staining, so for a more permanent fix for discoloured or broken teeth, veneers may be your best option.

Can a composite bonding chip?

While composite bonding is durable, just like natural teeth, it can chip under pressure, especially if the bonded teeth are the front teeth, which we use for biting rather than chewing. Your dentist will go through all the risks of composite bonding with you before your procedure, so you can keep your teeth in good condition and stop bad habits such as chewing fingernails and pens, cutting sellotape with your teeth or using them as tools.

If you grind your teeth, you’re also more at risk of chipping your teeth and your composite bonding, so you should seek treatment for teeth grinding (also known as bruxism) before having your teeth fixed to ensure your bonding lasts longer. To stop grinding your teeth, you should:

• Manage stress.
• Avoid stimulants like caffeine, tobacco and recreational drugs.
• Investigate Botox treatments to relax jaw muscles.

You also need to maintain proper oral hygiene and have regular dental appointments to ensure your teeth and gums are clean and healthy, to prevent weakening the bonding and reduce the chances of the resin chipping.

While composite bonding can be durable and aesthetically pleasing, it’s important to follow your dentist’s recommendations for care and maintenance to minimise the risk of chipping and ensure the longevity of the bonding. If chipping does occur, it can often be repaired by a dentist relatively easily.

What to do if your composite bonding chips

If you chip your composite bonding, you should go to your dentist as soon as possible to have it fixed before the problem becomes worse. Fixing composite bonding is very easy, so you don’t need to worry about the procedure if your composite bonding has chipped.

A dentist will:

• Assess the damage to see what needs to be done.
• Clean and prepare the area around the chip.
• Add more composite resin to the chipped area.
• Shape and polish as before to ensure it matches the colour and shape of the other teeth.

As composite bonding is designed to repair chips, it can be easily repaired itself with the addition of more resin in a straightforward way, with impressive results.

It’s important to keep up regular dental check-ups so your dentist can assess the quality of your bonding and your teeth to identify any issues before they worsen. In some cases, they may remove composite bonding and replace it to ensure its stability.

Can you remove composite bonding?

It’s rare to remove composite bonding, but it can be done if deemed necessary by your dentist. The dentist may need to numb the area with a local anaesthetic, depending on the area covered by the composite resin, so they can trim the bonding material more comfortably. Dental drills will then be used to remove the composite bonding from the surface of the tooth, which may take a long time, depending on how thick the bonding is and making sure not to remove excessive enamel on your teeth.

Your dentist will then assess the health of the tooth before suggesting adding more composite bonding to reform the tooth, or a veneer or dental crown to cover the tooth entirely. If too much enamel has been removed, a veneer or crown is the best option to create a new, strong and visually appealing tooth for you.

A dentist will discuss your best options with you and take your finances and wishes into consideration before starting any procedure.

Is tooth chipping a dental emergency?

Chipping a tooth is not usually considered a dental emergency, especially if the damage is purely aesthetic. However, if you chip or break your tooth badly and are also in immense pain, have bleeding from the area or swelling, you should see a dentist as soon as possible. Even if the chip is small and does not cause immediate discomfort, it can still increase the risk of tooth decay, infection, or further breakage if left untreated.

Composite bonding is one of the best ways to fix chipped teeth, as the dentist simply has to apply the resin, shape it to the tooth and harden it under light to make it more durable. If this chip, it’s easily fixed again in the same manner. It’s a quick and cost-effective way to fix minor chipped teeth, but if you have more serious symptoms, your dentist will have to assess the situation properly to know what the best course of action is.

What to do in a dental emergency

If you have a dental emergency, you need to be seen by a dentist as soon as possible to manage and assess the problem as well as prevent it from worsening. Unless your life is also at risk, i.e. you’re having difficulty breathing, speaking or swallowing, you have swelling of your face and neck, or heavy bleeding, you shouldn’t go to an urgent care centre as they cannot help with dental issues and will turn you away.

You should call your dentist to see if they can treat you; if they cannot see emergency patients or they’re closed, their voicemail message should have information on how to find an emergency dentist near you. If you’re not registered with a dentist, NHS 111 can inform you of your closest options to receive necessary treatment and advice to manage your symptoms in the meantime.

Emergency dentists are more expensive, so try to see your dentist routinely to reduce the costs.

Need urgent dental care? Go to the Eye and Dental Clinic

If you require emergency dental care or a routine dental appointment, book an appointment at the Eye and Dental Clinic for more information.

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