How to Fix Broken Teeth-Affordable Dental Repairs

Chipped teeth are a common problem for Americans. Many of the Foods that we eat contain solid ingredients such as nuts, seeds, and occasionally bones, which can be very adept at chipping and breaking teeth. The repAir of chipped teeth can often mean less than affordable dental work. How can you get affordable dental enamel repAir once your enamel chips or breaks? While every oral situation may be different, here are 4 common fixes for chipped or broken teeth.

How to Fix Broken Teeth-Affordable Dental Repairs

How to Fix Broken Teeth-Affordable Dental Repairs

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How to Fix Broken Teeth-Affordable Dental Repairs

How to Fix Broken Teeth-Affordable Dental Repairs

1. File Down to Fix. Occasionally, a chip in your enamel will be small enough to be unnoticeable to the eye. However, even a small chip can eventually lead to a sharp point on your tooth -a point definitely noticeable to your tongue! In this situation,dentist can often file and polish slightly to knock off the sharp edge. This filing process is the most affordable dental option for chipped teeth -if your chip is this small, then there may be no other work needed.

2. Rebuild With Resin-Based Composite. Resin-based composite is the name of the white material commonly used in fillings. If your missing chip is large enough to be seen, but does not reach the tooth's roots, a dentist can often rebuild your tooth using a resin composite. The composite can be shaded to match the regular color of your enamel, to fit in with the rest of your teeth. This process, often referred to as "bonding," is an affordable dental option compared to the more extensive work required to fix severechips.

3. Cap With a Crown. If a larger portion of your tooth has been compromised, a dentist may need to cap it with a crown-a hard protective cover which fits over the top of your broken tooth. In order for a dentist to place a crown, you must have enough of the original tooth remaining for the crown to attach to. The crown will keep your enamel from chipping further, and will protect the remaining broken part.

4. Remove and Replace. In some cases, your tooth may break off to the point that a composite or a crown cannot be used. If your tooth is broken or cracked to this extent, your dentist may have to pull your tooth, then add a replaceMent tooth in its place. ReplaceMent teeth can be added inthe form of a partial denture, a permanent bridge, or individual implants. Your most affordable dental option is always to save your original tooth, if possible-pulling and replacing a tooth should be your last resort. Still, while implants can be very expensive, an affordable dental plan or insurance may be able to cut the cost.

There are a number of different ways to dentist can fix or replace a broken tooth. If you currently have a chipped tooth, you should plan a visit to a certified dentist to have it checked out. Since every chip will be different, your dentist will be able to tell you more specifically what may be done to fix your broken tooth, and what your next steps should be.

How to Fix Broken Teeth-Affordable Dental Repairs

Dental Insurance to Cover the Cost of Dental Implants

Consider a few things. Have you spoken at length with your dentist about the procedure, what it involves, and getting down to the nitty gritty, what it will cost, including taxes, down to the last penny? If you presently do not have any kind of dental insurance, bear in mind that once you sign a policy with a company many plans clearly state that you must wait a year before you go ahead with any dental work. An option is to look to a dental HMO as many do not have any waiting periods whatsoever (or some do but it might be only a matter of months as opposed to a year). If you have an insurance policy that covers
dental work then congratulations, but look at your policy very closely and carefully as many policies cover such procedures as regularcheck ups, cleanings, fillings and extractions but not cosmetic procedures such as orthodontics and dental implants. Don't find yourself in a no-win situation by not doing your homework ahead of time.

Check you policy and see what it does (and does not) cover before you schedule an appointMent for dental implant surgery. Some insurance policies do not cover conditions that were pre-existing before the policy began (for instance, broken or missing teeth), while others pay a certain amount or in some cases, pay for the "least expensive alternative treatMent" (abbreviated to LEAT), according to the guidelines set down by the insurance company.

Dental Insurance to Cover the Cost of Dental Implants

Dental Insurance to Cover the Cost of Dental Implants

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Dental Insurance to Cover the Cost of Dental Implants

Dental Insurance to Cover the Cost of Dental Implants

If you are considering choosing a new insurance plan and/or selecting one for the first time, youneed to ask yourself a number of relevant questions found below.

First of all, if it is a plan that is offered by your workplace, are you as an employee allowed to pick your own dentist or will he/she be chosen for you? Secondly, is the kind of dental treatMent you choose to undergo decided upon by yourself as the patient and the dentist, or there is a third Party involved in the decision making process? Thirdly, does the insurance plan in question cover such services as diagnostic, emergency and preventative care? Preventative care would cover such things as fluoride treatMents and sealants. Also would full-mouth x-rays be covered by the plan? (One a year? Two?)

Dental Insurance to Cover the Cost of Dental Implants