Are Porcelain Veneers Your Best Option for Chipped Teeth?
Chips, cracks, and discoloration all affect the appearance of your smile. Veneers cover minor dental irregularities so that you can continue to smile with confidence.
Dr. Louis J. Buono provides lifelike porcelain veneers for patients living in Long Island and Garden City, NY. With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Buono is committed to delivering healthy smiles that feel as great as they look.
Chips in teeth create structural damage that leaves them vulnerable to infections. Protective devices, like porcelain veneers and dental crowns, can limit additional damage.
The nature and extent of chipped teeth will, ultimately, dictate which procedure or restoration is best suited to protect damaged teeth. Here, Dr. Buono discusses porcelain veneers for chipped teeth, how they prevent further damage, and if they are right for you.
What Are Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers are tooth-shaped shells fabricated from dental-grade ceramic. Dr. Buono can color match the veneers to patients’ surrounding teeth for a natural appearance.
Once patients choose the perfect shade for their custom veneers, Dr. Buono crafts them from high-quality materials using cutting-edge technology and techniques. Then, Dr. Buono preps the teeth by removing a small amount of enamel from the teeth that are receiving treatment. Finally, he secures the veneers to the front surface of the teeth using a strong dental cement.
Why Choose Veneers for Chipped Teeth?
Chipped teeth are weaker than fully intact teeth. As a result, they are likely to sustain more chips and develop cracks that leave the inside of teeth vulnerable to harmful bacteria. The accumulation of harmful bacteria inside a tooth can lead to a painful tooth infection. Without proper treatment, it’s possible for an infected tooth to require a root canal or extraction.
Porcelain veneers are long-lasting fixtures that mitigate the risks of further dental damage that can lead to tooth infections. Not only do they enhance teeth’s structural integrity, but they also improve the appearance of patients’ smiles.
Because porcelain veneers offer a level of protection that chipped teeth wouldn’t have otherwise, patients spend less time in the dentist’s chair. And less time spent in the dentist’s chair means that patients spend less money on costly procedures.
Are Porcelain Veneers Right for Me?
In general, porcelain veneers are ideal for patients with a chipped tooth that sustained minimal damage. An in-depth appointment with Dr. Buono will allow him to inspect the tooth and determine the extent of the damage.
In some cases, a chipped tooth requires more protection than porcelain veneers can offer. Luckily, patients have other restorative options to repair a chipped tooth.
What Are My Other Options?
If Dr. Buono believes that porcelain veneers won’t offer a damaged tooth enough protection, then he may make other recommendations, like dental bonding or dental crowns.
Dental bonding uses a composite resin material to conceal damaged areas while reinforcing the natural structure of the tooth. Dental crowns are cap-like coverings that encompass the entire tooth. As such, they offer unparalleled protection that enhances patients’ smiles.
Schedule a Porcelain Veneer Consultation
A chipped tooth can lead to additional damage and painful complications. If you have chipped teeth, then schedule your porcelain veneer consultation at Garden City Smiles today. Patients can send us a message to get started, or may call our office at (516) 294-0375.
