Composite Bonding Repair For A Chipped Tooth
Has your composite bonding chipped? Or become worn or discoloured with wear? Contact Yorkshire Dental Suite for a bonding refresh.
Composite bonding is not indestructible. Whether it’s the result of an accident, biting into a hard object or just general wear and tear, the resin can chip. Luckily, the treatment is easily repaired by your dentist.
What is composite bonding and why does it chip?
A popular cosmetic dental treatment, composite bonding uses a resin blend to disguise chips, cracks, small gaps and discolouration. This blend is hand applied to the tooth and cured in place by a UV light.
Composite bonding is not as strong as your natural enamel. This means there is a higher risk of chipping or cracking. There are many reasons your teeth bonding may chip, including:
- Biting into hard foods and objects
- Injury to the tooth
- Bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching)
- Using your teeth as tool, for example, to remove a clothing tag
- Material ageing
- Improper application technique
What does composite bonding repair involve?
First of all, can a chipped composite veneer be repaired? Yes - and the repair process is almost identical to the original application process. First, your dentist will roughen the surface of the old bonding, before applying a bonding agent. A new layer of composite resin is placed, shaped and cured, giving you a perfect tooth once more.
Repairing teeth with composite resin costs £295 per tooth. If it cannot be repaired and the bonding needs to be replaced entirely, you will be paying the original price of £495 per tooth. If you wish to spread your spending over a period of time, enquire about our finance options.
Can a composite filling be repaired?
A composite filling is often easily repaired. In fact, for our white fillings, we use the same resin material as our composite bonding treatment. This treatment typically needs replacing within 5 - 8 years, but is still susceptible to chipping or damage.
- If a piece of your filling breaks off, additional resin can simply be applied on top
- When damage cannot be fixed by adding resin, the damaged portion is removed and rebuilt with brand-new resin
- Rough edges can be smoothed with a quick polish
- Extreme damage requires removing the resin and replacing the filling in its entirety
What to do if your composite bonding keeps chipping
Chipping is often inconvenient, but is quite common. Here is everything you need to do if your bonding chips, and how to prevent it from breaking off in the future. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us.
What to do | When to action | Explanation |
Immediately | Booking a check-up allows your dentist to assess the damage. | |
Change how you eat | Immediately | To prevent further damage or sensitivity, avoid using the affected tooth to chew or bite. |
Don’t use your teeth as tools | Long-term solution | Avoid using your teeth to chew nails or rip off clothing tags - this also prevents further damage. |
Wear a mouthguard | Long-term solution | Protects your bonding. Wear if you grind teeth (bruxism) or play sports. |
Long-term solution | Minimises risk of chipping and staining. Examples include ice and popcorn. | |
Attend regular check-ups | Long-term solution | Your dentist will keep your bonding strong, luminous and white. |
Do not try to fix the chipped bonding yourself. Avoid over-the-counter glues, nail files or DIY kits. Why? Attempting to carry out the repair from home can cause permanent damage and sensitivity.
If your bonding still does not stop chipping, consider opting for a more permanent dental treatment, such as porcelain veneers. This popular procedure still gives you a beautiful straight white smile, but lasts much longer (15+ years) than its composite counterpart.
How to repair a cracked tooth
A cracked tooth is generally considered more severe than a chipped tooth. This is because the fracture line may run all the way through the tooth, right to its root. A crack can also allow bacteria to enter which, in some cases, leads to infection and even loss of the tooth. Treatments include:
- Dental crown: Replaces the damaged portion of the tooth, leaving the root intact. We use porcelain-coated zirconia, a material 10x stronger than a tooth’s natural enamel.
- Composite material: Minor cracks can be sealed up with the resin used in our white filling and composite bonding treatments.
- Porcelain veneers: In this procedure, a miniscule amount of the enamel is removed, before a veneer is permanently bonded onto the surface of the tooth. This significantly strengthens the broken tooth and hides damage.
- Root canal: If there is infection present a root canal is a common fix, removing damaged tissue from the tooth before being sealed with a crown or filling.
- Extraction: Do you have an extreme crack that cannot be fixed with any of the above? Removal may be the only option. If you do not like the gap left behind by the extraction, enquire about dental implants.
How to repair a chipped tooth
Whether it’s a minor, moderate or extreme chip, there are a number of dental treatments available that can fix your broken tooth. Your dentist will talk you through your options.
- Tooth reattachment: If you managed to save the piece of tooth that broke off, your dentist may be able to bond the piece back into place.
- Dental crown: Replaces the damaged portion of the tooth, leaving the root intact. We use porcelain-coated zirconia, a material 10x stronger than a tooth’s natural enamel.
- Composite material: Minor chips can be sealed up with the resin used in our white filling and composite bonding treatments.
- Porcelain veneers: In this procedure, a miniscule amount of the enamel is removed, before a veneer is permanently bonded onto the surface of the tooth. This significantly strengthens the broken tooth and hides damage.
- Root canal: If there is infection present a root canal is a common fix, removing damaged tissue from the tooth before being sealed with a crown or filling.
Conclusion:
Contact your dentist if you have chipped your composite bonding. With next day and same day appointments available across our nine Yorkshire Dental Suite clinics, we will get your smile looking perfect once again.