A chipped edge that keeps scraping your tongue is hard to ignore. For people travelling from Burlington, our team examines the broken area and your bite, then explains whether smoothing, composite bonding or another repair would settle it properly.
It often starts as something you only feel. Your tongue drifts to a jagged corner during a meeting, or your lip catches on it while you talk. For a suitable chip, composite bonding rebuilds the missing part with tooth-coloured resin that is shaped on the tooth and polished smooth.
Before deciding how to fix it, we want to know why it broke. An old filling that let go, enamel that cracked on something hard, and a tooth that wears down from clenching each lead to different advice. The scratchy edge itself rarely tells the whole story.
If you are booking from Burlington, mention when you first felt the rough spot, whether it is sore, and how you would like the tooth to look. We examine it, share what we find, and discuss bonding or other options with you. There is no need to decide on a treatment beforehand.
The right repair depends on the condition of the tooth, not just the size of the chip. Even if nothing hurts, a few details help us plan.
Tell us whether the tooth loosened, bled, or has been tender since. The gum and nearby teeth may need checking as well. If there was a real impact, the chip should be looked at as an injury rather than a purely cosmetic flaw.
Show us the exact spot and say whether eating or speaking feels different. Avoid filing it with a nail file or testing it on hard snacks. We can explain whether a tiny bit of smoothing or a resin build-up would be the better approach.
Mention past repairs, any grinding or clenching, and habits like chewing pen caps or biting tape. Repairing the same spot without asking why it keeps breaking may not solve much. If you have a guard or retainer, bring it to the appointment.
Kept the piece that broke off? Put it in milk or saliva in a small closed container and bring it. Your dentist can tell you if reattaching it is an option. Please don't try household glue.
On the right tooth, resin can be tinted and sculpted so the rebuilt corner blends with nearby enamel. The goals might include a smooth surface for your tongue, an outline that matches its neighbour, or a restored section of the biting edge.
It also helps to know the limits. Composite can stain, wear and occasionally chip, and how long it lasts depends on the tooth and how much force it handles. Ask what is reasonable to expect for your tooth rather than relying on a generic lifespan.
Patient information: Canadian Dental Association — bonding and veneers · Cleveland Clinic — dental bonding and maintenance
Ask how much of the tooth will be treated and why that is the right amount. Many small chips can be fixed locally rather than by covering the whole visible surface. The answer depends on the healthy enamel left, the pattern of the break and any older filling.
Explain whether the sharpness, the shorter length or the uneven look matters most to you. Ask how the planned shape will sit beside the adjacent tooth. You can share preferences freely without being steered into bigger cosmetic changes.
Find out what would call for a polish, a repair or a replacement later, and how routine check-ups will monitor it. That helps you compare bonding with other choices fairly. Confirm the estimate and whether more assessment is needed first.
Every repair is planned around the specific tooth, so steps can vary. If you feel nervous, let us know and ask how comfort will be looked after.
We talk about how and when it chipped, plus any soreness when chewing or sensitivity to temperature. The clinician examines the tooth and decides whether an X-ray would help. Ask if there is anything underneath that bonding would not fix.
For some edges, gentle reshaping is enough; others need material added. You will hear the reasoning and compare alternatives. Mention any whitening plans, because they can affect the order of treatment and the resin shade selected.
If bonding goes ahead, the surface is prepared and resin is layered and sculpted. A curing light hardens each layer. Whether freezing is needed depends on the extent of the work, so ask what to expect for your tooth.
The repair is polished until smooth, and your bite is checked as you close and move your jaw. Tell us if the tooth feels thick or hits first. We finish with aftercare advice and whether any follow-up is recommended.
Follow the instructions for your specific repair. If you had freezing, avoid chewing until normal feeling returns so you don't nip your lip or cheek.
Brush with fluoride toothpaste and keep cleaning between your teeth as advised. Resin still gathers plaque along its edges. If the new shape makes you unsure about flossing there, ask us to show you how.
Don't use the tooth to bite fingernails, cut tape or crack nuts. If you grind or clench, ask whether an appliance should be considered. That recommendation depends on your habits and isn't automatically part of bonding.
Let us know about a new rough spot, a change in your bite or a piece breaking away. Please don't file or sand it yourself. If the chip came from an injury, keep any review appointment even when the tooth looks finished.
Patient information: NHS — assessment and treatment of chipped or broken teeth
Comfort, appearance and maintenance belong in one conversation. A good plan sees the repaired edge as part of a living tooth.
Call our Bronte Street office from Burlington to describe the chip and book an assessment. Tell us when it happened and whether you have pain, sensitivity or a loose tooth so we can suggest the right next step.
Bonding is one possible way to repair a chip. For a recent injury or urgent symptoms, please call instead of waiting for an online reply.
