An olive pit, a popcorn kernel or a hard candy can leave a tooth with a sudden gap. For people booking from Acton, we check the chip and look for any crack behind it, then explain whether composite bonding is a sensible way to rebuild the edge.
Many chips happen over an ordinary meal. You bite down on something harder than expected, feel a small crack and find a sharp new edge with your tongue. For a suitable chip, composite bonding rebuilds the area with tooth-coloured resin that is shaped directly on the tooth and polished smooth.
A chip from biting can hide more than it shows. The enamel may have broken cleanly, an old filling may have given way, or a crack may run further into the tooth than the visible gap. Pain when you release a bite, or sensitivity to cold, can be a clue that something deeper is involved.
Before you come in from Acton, note which tooth it was, what you were eating and whether it hurts to chew. We examine the area, explain what we find and talk through bonding along with other possible repairs. You don't have to work out the right treatment yourself.
The size of the chip is only part of the picture. These observations help us plan, even if the tooth settles down and stops bothering you.
If the chip came from a fall or blow rather than food, tell us if it shifted, if the gum bled, or if it has been tender since. Other teeth and the gum may also need checking. Any chip after a significant impact should be assessed as an injury first.
Describe where it rubs your tongue or cheek. A piece of sugar-free gum or dental wax can sometimes cover a sharp spot briefly, but avoid chewing on that side or testing it with crunchy foods. We can then decide whether to smooth it or rebuild it.
Tell us if pain comes when you bite or let go, or if hot and cold linger. That can suggest a crack rather than a simple chip. Mention grinding, clenching and earlier repairs on the same tooth, and bring any guard you wear.
If you found the piece, store it in a lidded container under a little milk or saliva, and bring it along. Reattachment isn't always possible, but the dentist can check. Skip the household glue.
On a tooth that's a good candidate, resin is matched to your shade and sculpted to replace what broke away. That may mean restoring the outline, smoothing a sharp corner or rebuilding part of the edge you use to bite into food.
Bonding isn't indestructible. Composite can stain, wear and chip, particularly if it meets the same hard foods that caused the first break. Ask what to expect for your specific tooth rather than relying on a typical lifespan.
Patient information: Canadian Dental Association — bonding and veneers · Cleveland Clinic — dental bonding and maintenance
Ask how much of the tooth the repair will involve. A small food-related chip can often be rebuilt locally without covering the whole tooth. The choice depends on how much enamel remains, the direction of the break and any older fillings.
Tell the clinician whether the sharpness, a visible gap or a change in length matters most. Ask how the planned edge will relate to its neighbour. You can explain what you want without being drawn into a wider smile plan.
Ask what would lead to polishing, repair or replacement later, and how routine visits will keep an eye on it. That makes it easier to compare bonding with alternatives. Check the estimate and whether further assessment is needed first.
Every step depends on the tooth and the repair agreed. If you get nervous about dental work, say so and ask how we'll help keep you comfortable.
We ask what you were biting, and whether there's pain on chewing, on release or with cold. The clinician examines the tooth closely, may use a bite test and can suggest an X-ray. Ask whether a crack has been ruled out before bonding.
You'll compare bonding with other reasonable approaches and decide on the result you want. If you're thinking about whitening or other treatment, raise it now. It can affect the timing and the shade chosen for the repair.
Once the plan is agreed, the tooth is prepared, and composite is added and sculpted in layers. A curing light sets the material. Freezing and preparation depend on the size and position of the chip, so ask what yours will involve.
The repair is polished, and the clinician checks how your teeth come together as you bite and chew. Say so if the tooth feels high or unfamiliar. We explain aftercare and whether the tooth needs a review.
Follow the instructions for your repair. If you were frozen, wait until full feeling returns before eating so you don't accidentally bite your cheek or lip.
Twice-daily brushing with a fluoride paste and daily flossing still apply. A bonded edge picks up plaque the same way your own enamel does. If the area feels unfamiliar under the floss, ask us to demonstrate a technique.
Take care with olive pits, popcorn kernels, hard candies and ice. Don't use the tooth to open packages or crack shells. If you clench or grind, ask whether an appliance should be considered; it isn't automatically part of bonding.
Call if the edge feels rough again, your bite changes, chewing becomes painful or a piece comes away. Leave adjustments to us. Keep any review recommended for the tooth, since a smooth surface doesn't rule out a crack developing.
Patient information: NHS — assessment and treatment of chipped or broken teeth
Ask about comfort, appearance and care together. A good plan treats the repair as part of a tooth that still has to handle everyday meals.
Call our Bronte Street office from Acton to describe the chip and arrange an assessment. Let us know what you were eating, whether chewing hurts and whether the tooth feels sensitive or loose, so we can advise on a sensible next step.
Bonding is one of several ways to repair a chip. If the tooth is painful, swollen or loose, a phone call is the quickest way to reach us.
