If one of your front teeth is broken or chipped, you may feel self-conscious about it. You may not like smiling or letting anyone else see your teeth. You can talk to your dentist to see what can be done for the problem. Your dentist may refer you over to a cosmetic dentist so that they can give you the options that are open to you. 

Bonding

Your dentist can use a bonding process. This process uses a special dental material that acts as a tooth. The way that it works is that the dentist will rough up the area around the damaged area. It has to be roughed up because the bonding material won't stick to the tooth. It needs to have something to grip onto for a good hold. After that, the dentist will start putting on the bonding material. At first, they will put more material than you may think is necessary. That's because the doctor will want to make sure that there is enough for the repair. They will shape it and form it so that it looks like it should. Your dentist will then use a special UV lamp to cause the bonding material to harden. The dentist will do any final shaping and polishing at that point. You may have to have the bonding replaced at some point in the future. 

Crowns

If the chip or broken tooth is damaged too severely for bonding to work, your dentist may recommend that you get a crown. A crown is basically a cover that gets put on your tooth. It protects your tooth from further damage and keeps it from hurting you. Crowns are usually made out of dental porcelain. That material can be tinted so that it matches the color of your teeth so it won't stand out. If you are getting a crown, you will probably have some anesthetic because the dentist may have to remove the damaged tooth in order to make the crown fit better. Once the dentist has done everything necessary, they will make an impression so that they can get the exact size of crown they need to make. When it is made, they will use a special dental adhesive to put the crown on, and it should last permanently. 

If you have a chipped or broken tooth, you don't have to be stuck with it. There are things that you and your dentist can do so that you have a beautiful smile again. Click here for more information.