Dental Veneers Can Help Repair Chipped Teeth

A chipped tooth is often the result of an accident. It can be repaired, however, with the help of dental veneers, which are thin shells customized to the patient’s teeth, applied directly over existing teeth to improve their appearance. They are typically made of either porcelain or resin composite, with porcelain being the more popular choice because of its better resistance to staining and its resemblance to natural teeth. Veneers are used by a cosmetic dentist in Dallas, PA for many applications, including the restoration of chipped teeth.

The Challenge of Tooth Reduction in Veneers

Tooth reduction is inevitable in regular veneers. While this is done for the veneers to fit well and look natural over real teeth, cosmetic dentists must also avoid grinding away too much enamel.

As the enamel protects the more sensitive dentin in the tooth, reduction is limited to just 0.5 to 0.8 mm. Any more than this can expose the dentin and cause hypersensitivity. Furthermore, porcelain veneers bond to the enamel better than the dentin, although dentin bonding agents have considerably improved over time.

Using Veneers to Seal the Front Tooth Gap

If you watched the 1995 comedy film Houseguest, you may remember lead character Kevin Franklin (Sinbad) being introduced to a very attractive woman. The only downside was that the woman had a visible gap─ a diastema─ between her front teeth whenever she smiled. Such a problem can be fixed through orthodontic solutions, but if you cannot undergo the lengthy process, your cosmetic dental practitioner may help out with installing veneers, or pre-shaped porcelain shells.