A healthy smile is a major confidence booster, and while professional tooth bonding is a fast, cost-effective, and minimally invasive option for restoring cracked or broken teeth, concealing stains, or fixing gaps in teeth, learning how to fix a chipped tooth at home can help you touch up your smile in an emergency situation, or for a temporary quick fix.
While an emergency tooth repair kit for bonding might not be suitable if you’re looking for a complete smile makeover or when you’re missing teeth, it can be used by anyone looking to address minor imperfections in their smile or simply tweak their teeth.
For instance, dental wax can help to soften the edges of a chipped tooth so they don’t cut or scrape your tongue or lips. Moldable thermal beads can also achieve the same result in the short-term. A dental care kit can also temporarily change size or shape of a tooth that appears shorter than the others, causing your smile to look odd.
If you choose to use a tooth repair kit at home, you should make sure to follow the directions and aftercare instructions to the letter to maintain the results and keep your teeth looking bright and healthy.
Types of chipped tooth damage
Chipped teeth are the most commonly reported dental injury, and can cause severe tooth nerve pain depending on the extent of tooth damage. If your chipped tooth is hurting, there are various home remedies for tooth pain you can try before you get to see a dentist. Even if it’s not painful, it’s still a good idea to see your dentist for a proper diagnosis and fix with tooth bonding or veneers or crowns before the damage becomes more severe.
For many people, a chipped tooth may seem like a cosmetic concern rather than a potential medical issue. However, chipped teeth can lead to more significant problems by exposing the sensitive inner parts of the tooth. This exposure can result in decay, infection, and even tooth loss.
There are different types of chipped teeth, which can be categorized as follows:
- Craze lines: These are tiny vertical cracks that become visible on the enamel. They are commonly associated with aging, but they rarely cause severe or irreparable damage to the tooth.
- Fractured cusp: This type of chip occurs in teeth that have cavities or fillings. These cracks are considered minor and do not extend deep into the sensitive parts of the tooth, so they are usually not painful.
- Cracked tooth (gumline): Cracks in this category extend to the gumline and may require extraction. However, subgingival cracked teeth can be repaired with non-removal procedures such as dental crowns and bonds.
- Split tooth: Some chipped teeth split entirely into two or more sections. This is often the result of poor oral hygiene and a lack of long-term dental care. Repairing this type of crack can be challenging, and extraction is typically necessary.
- Vertical root fracture: These fractures occur due to frequent and repetitive forces applied to the tooth over time. They are most common in adults over the age of 50.
Understanding the different types of chipped teeth can help your dentist determine the appropriate treatment approach based on the extent of the damage.
How to fix a chipped tooth at home
If you want to try fixing the tooth damage at home, then there are several steps you should take to minimize damage and, at least, get the best possible result:
Step 1: Determine the extent of tooth damage
Naturally, you should start by accessing how bad the tooth damage is. There are several ways in which a tooth can chip. It can happen when you bite into something hard, experience a minor accident and hit your head, or if there is an underlying issue with the tooth itself. Regardless of how it happens, chipping a tooth can be disappointing.
If you do chip your tooth, it’s advisable to try and save the chipped piece if it is large enough and you can locate it. Then visit your dentist as soon as possible to treat the chipped tooth and prevent the damage from getting bigger. Treatment may involve placing a cap or dental crown over the affected area to protect the tooth.
Sometimes if the chip is small, there might not be any pieces to save. You may also not experience any symptoms until later, such as:
- Feeling a rough surface when running your tongue along the tooth
- Feeling a sharp or jagged edge on your tooth
- Intermittent sensitivity or pain when eating and drinking
- Getting the feeling of food particles stuck in your teeth
- Swelling along the gumline at the affected tooth
Step 2: Get your tooth repair kit
If you determine that the chipped tooth can be repaired at home, then the next step is to gather the necessary tools and products for the repair.
It’s best to start by cleaning your teeth and mouth before starting any repair work at home. This includes rinsing your mouth warm water and gently brushing to remove any plaque or debris in the area.
Then dry the area and follow the instructions on your tooth repair kit. Here are some options:
1. Chipped Tooth Repair Kit for Missing & Broken Teeth
The Tooth Repair Kit is a temporary tooth replacement kit designed to repair chipped, broken, and missing teeth. It includes thermoformed beads made of eco-friendly polymer plastic, ensuring safety and odorlessness. The heat beads can be shaped to fit your teeth perfectly, providing natural comfort and a realistic appearance.
This DIY kit allows you to repair your teeth at home, saving time and money. It comes with a mouth mirror, tartar scraper, and dental probe for convenience. The instructions on the box guide you through the simple and convenient process, and with practice, it only takes a few minutes to achieve a good temporary tooth.
Caution:
- Don’t use if there is any irritation or discomfort
- Don’t sleep with the temporary tooth in your mouth
- Be cautious with hot fluids that can soften or melt the temporary tooth,
- Keep it out of reach of children.
2. Temporary Tooth Repair Kit-Thermal Beads
The Temporary Tooth Repair Kit is designed for filling, repairing missing, broken, or gapped teeth. It provides instant and temporary results, making your teeth look natural and nice. It is user-friendly, made of high-quality and safe material that can be customized to fit your exact shape and size. The kit includes enough material to make a temporary tooth 20 to 25 times or more.
This product can be used to cover a crack in your tooth, preventing further cracking until it gets fixed. It is helpful for eating, as it prevents food particles from hitting a nerve. The temporary tooth lasts for about a week before becoming loose, but there is enough material in the pack to make several replacements.
Also note that the temporary tooth may become yellow from eating and drinking, but since it is replaceable, it shouldn’t be a significant concern. When replacing, gargling warm salt water and oil pulling can help to loosen the temporary tooth for easy removal and replacement.
Step 3: Assess how your mouth feels
After the quick fix, check for any signs of trouble like pain or swelling, and make sure you’re aesthetically satisfied with the result. Most tooth repair kits can be used to perform multiple fixes. So if there’s a problem, you can try to remove the material (according to the instructions) and then redo the procedure.
Step 4: Take care of the temporary restoration
Try to avoid biting down on hard objects, chewing vigorously, taking very hot food and drinks, or doing anything else that might cause the restoration to fall off quicker than expected.
Risks associated with home repair kits for chipped tooth
- Inadequate decay removal – Home tooth filling kits do not remove decay, which can lead to ongoing problems. Bacteria can enter the hole, food particles may get trapped, and fragments of previous fillings may remain, increasing the risk of decay, infections, and tooth loss.
- Unaddressed underlying issues – If the damage is due to decay, it is crucial to determine the cause and address any related issues like receding gums, gum disease, or decay in other teeth. Failure to do so can result in pain, infections, and eventual tooth loss.
- Lack of professional cleaning and sealing – Proper cleaning and sealing of the tooth are essential before filling placement. DIY fillings may not adequately clean the tooth or seal it against future decay, potentially leading to the need for root canal treatment or tooth loss.
- Altered bite – Temporary tooth filling kits may not replicate the natural tooth surface or contour, affecting how your teeth meet and creating an improper bite. This can cause discomfort, jaw pain, headaches, and may even impact previous orthodontic treatment to achieve straight teeth.
- Increased risk of filling displacement – DIY fillings are not as secure as those placed by dentists and are prone to falling out or breaking. Front teeth, in particular, have less retention for home fillings, making them less likely to stay in place.
- Lack of color match – Temporary filling materials from home kits are typically bright white and noticeable, lacking the aesthetics and color matching achieved by dental professionals.
- Discomfort and pain during chewing – Temporary fillings may cause discomfort and sensitivity when chewing due to pressure on the filling and potential irritation of the dentine tissue. Inadequate bite alignment can further contribute to discomfort and increase the risk of tooth fracture or chipping when biting hard substances.
It is important to consider these risks and seek professional dental care for a chipped tooth to ensure proper treatment and long-term oral health.
References
https://smilestories.co/tooth-filling-kit-could-mess-up-your-teeth/
https://www.shinedentalclinic.co.uk/how-to-fix-a-chipped-tooth-at-home/