When you have a damaged tooth, you need to find a quick way to repair it. Luckily, you have a few repair options that can help you deal with your damaged tooth in a timely manner. However, you need to know more about each option so you can choose the right one for your situation.

Composite Bonding

For minor breaks, composite bonding is a good option for replacing a missing piece of your tooth. The material used for this procedure is a resin-based product that bonds to the surface of your tooth once it hardens.

The process starts with the dentist choosing a color of resin that best matches your existing enamel. The resin, which is malleable plastic, is placed onto the enamel and molded to fill in the missing piece of your tooth.

The dentist's goal when molding the resin is to mimic the natural shape, color and texture of your teeth. By doing so, the dentist can smooth out the seam between the new material and your existing enamel, so it is difficult to see the repair work.

Once the dentist is satisfied with the shape, he or she then uses a special light to harden the resin. The dentist may have to do some minor trimming and polishing to reach the desired look as well. Additionally, the application and shaping of the composite bonding can be done in 30-60 minutes, which makes this an ideal option for minor tooth repair.

CEREC Restoration

When the damage is worse, such as a tooth broken in two or severe decay, composite bonding may not be the right option for your problem. In these situations, a crown can be used to cover the exposed portion of your tooth. However, traditional crowns usually take multiple visits, which is why a CEREC restoration is a better choice.

With a CEREC restoration, the dentist uses a machine to take a 3D image of the tooth, which then creates a crown out of a ceramic block. This process allows the dentist to complete the crown in one visit, because they do not need to send an outside lab to build the crown for them.

As with a traditional crown, the dentist preps the tooth by removing any decay or rough edges and then glues the new crown into the place. Since the crown in created at the dentist's office, the work is usually done in about 2 hours, thus making this a great option for repairing more severe dental work.

When multiple dental visits are not your ideal choice for repairing a broken tooth, you need to find a quicker option. By learning more about these methods, you can pick the right one for your situation. For more information talk with a top cosmetic dentist in your area.