How To Keep a Chipped Tooth Alive

This young boy came in with a very common trauma: a blow to the front teeth with a large chip. The nightmare of parents.

If the visit to the dentist happens as soon as possible and a laser is used, the chances of the tooth surviving are excellent. The small nerve exposure, along with the whole dentine surface, is lasered with the Waterlase and disinfected.

MTA ( a highly biocompatible cement) is applied as a dressing over the exposed nerve. Over this layer, the tooth is bonded with a self-etching bonding agent.

The tooth is built up with composite …

… following aesthetic bonding principles.

The tooth is polished and as good as new.

Three years after the procedure, the tooth is still alive and vital. This kid was spared a root canal.