Key points in brief
- A repair is usually enough when no framework shows under the chipped porcelain on a crown. The framework looks like grey metal or a dull, chalky-white surface. The repair then usually takes one visit, without removing the crown.
- When the framework shows, a repair is often enough on the edge of a front tooth. On the chewing surface of a back tooth, the dentist more often suggests replacement, and a conventional bridge on prepared teeth is then usually replaced as a whole.
- Show a small chip that does not hurt to your dentist within the next few weeks. Until then, do not bite hard things on that side, do not smooth the edge yourself, and cover a sharp edge with orthodontic wax from a pharmacy.
- If you have pain, a loose crown or bridge, or a crack right through, come in within 1–2 days, and with swelling or fever, today. If breathing or swallowing is difficult, call 112.
- A chip is sometimes a sign of too much pressure, for example from clenching your teeth at night. That is why the dentist also checks your bite during the repair.
What causes chipped porcelain on a crown
Porcelain is hard but brittle, so under too much pressure a piece of it can break off. A crown or a bridge usually has two layers. Underneath is a framework made of metal or zirconia, which gives it strength. On top lies the porcelain - also called ceramic - which gives the colour and shape of a tooth. Cracked ceramic on a crown is usually damage to the top layer alone: the framework underneath stays intact, and the crown still protects the tooth.
Common causes are clenching and grinding your teeth, biting on hard things, and a tooth that meets the opposite tooth too hard or earlier than the others when you close your mouth. Small flaws inside the porcelain and its ageing also play a part. A crown on an implant is more at risk, because pressure on an implant is felt much less than pressure on your own tooth. This makes it easier to clench too hard.
The moment the porcelain chipped can also be a clue. Chipped porcelain on a crown in the first weeks after it was fitted may point to a problem with the shape of the crown or with the bite. At the appointment, tell your dentist how long ago the crown was fitted.
If the tooth under the crown hurts when you bite, the cause may also be a crack in the tooth itself. A fractured tooth root needs different tests and different treatment from chipped porcelain.
What to check in the mirror before your appointment
Look at the crown in good light before you call the practice. If you can, take a photo of the damaged spot with your phone, as it will help when you book the appointment. Your answers to these questions will help the dentist:
- Where is the chip: on the edge of a front tooth, on the chewing surface you bite with, or near the gum?
- Can you see grey metal or a dull, chalky-white surface where the chip is, different from the rest of the crown? That may be exposed framework.
- Is the edge sharp, and does it scratch your tongue or cheek?
- Does the crown or bridge move when you bite?
- Does the tooth hurt when you chew, or react to cold?
If a sharp edge scratches, cover it with a piece of orthodontic wax. Do not smooth the edge with a nail file or sandpaper, because it is easy to scratch the porcelain and injure the gum. Until the appointment, do not bite nuts, hard bread or ice on that side. If you have found the broken piece, put it in a small, dry box and bring it with you.
A small chip that does not hurt does not need an urgent appointment, but it is worth showing it to your dentist within the next few weeks. Pain, a loose crown or bridge, or a crack right through are reasons to come in within 1–2 days, and with swelling or fever, the same day. If swelling makes breathing or swallowing difficult, call 112 straight away. It is the emergency number in Poland and across the EU.
Four grades of damage and what is done for each
The dentist looks at the size of the chip and at whether the framework shows under the porcelain. For teeth that show when you smile, it also matters whether the repair will be visible. Whether smoothing or a composite repair is enough, or a replacement is needed, depends on this. Composite resin is the tooth-coloured material used for white fillings.
| What you see or feel | What the dentist checks and suggests | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 1: a small nick on the edge, no framework showing | Examining the chip, checking the bite with coloured bite paper, smoothing and polishing the edge | The shape of the crown changes very slightly |
| Grade 2: a larger loss of porcelain, no framework showing | Checking the bite with bite paper and a composite repair in the mouth | Composite wears faster than porcelain and may change colour over time |
| Grade 3: framework showing, either grey metal or dull zirconia | Checking the bite and whether the crown fits closely, then a composite repair with a layer that hides the framework, or a replacement, depending on the location | On the chewing surface a repair sometimes does not last, and metal may show through |
| Grade 4: a crack right through (through the whole crown), a loose crown or bridge, pain | An X-ray, assessment of the tooth under the crown, and usually a replacement if there is a crack. A crown that has come loose without cracking can sometimes be fixed back in place | Several visits, sometimes treatment of the tooth first |
Most chips fall into grade 1 or 2. At grade 3, exposed framework is harder to cover with composite in a way that lasts. On the edge of a front tooth, a repair is still often enough. On a back tooth, the chewing surface takes the full pressure of biting, so when the chip is on that surface the dentist more often suggests replacing the crown.
An X-ray is not needed for every chip. The dentist takes one when the tooth hurts, the crown moves, or the crack looks deeper than the porcelain alone. The X-ray shows the root and the bone around the tooth, and sometimes also decay at the edge of the crown.
How a crown is repaired with composite
The repair usually takes one visit. The dentist does not remove the crown and does not grind the tooth down again. An anaesthetic is often not needed, because the procedure involves only the porcelain.
First, the dentist places a rubber sheet around the area being repaired, called a rubber dam. Then the edge of the chip is sandblasted or coated with an etching gel to make it rough. On top of this goes a liquid that bonds the porcelain to the composite. Before the composite goes on, any exposed metal is covered with an opaque layer so that the grey does not show through.
The composite is applied in layers and hardened with a special light. Finally, the dentist shapes it, checks the bite with bite paper and polishes the surface to a shine so that it does not scratch your tongue. You can eat normally after the visit. Even later, though, it is better not to bite nuts, ice or fruit stones with the repaired spot.
When the missing part on a front tooth is larger, the dentist may suggest a different kind of repair. A dental technician then makes a thin piece of porcelain, which the dentist bonds in place of the chip. This takes longer - usually two visits - but porcelain keeps its colour longer than composite.
When a crown or bridge needs replacing
With chipped porcelain on a crown, a replacement is usually needed when:
- the framework or the whole crown has cracked,
- the crown or bridge is loose and cannot be fixed back in place,
- decay has developed under the crown,
- chips keep coming back in the same place.
In these situations, a repair in the mouth usually only postpones the problem.
If chipped porcelain on a bridge cannot be repaired in the mouth, the whole bridge is usually replaced. A conventional bridge on prepared teeth, meaning teeth that were ground down to hold it, is made in one piece. It is one of several types of dental bridges. It is different with several single crowns standing side by side: only the damaged one is replaced.
How often porcelain chips depends on how the crown is built. Porcelain on a zirconia framework usually chips more often than porcelain on a metal framework. Among crowns and bridges made of porcelain-covered zirconia and supported by the patient's own teeth, roughly one in ten has a minor chip within 5 years. About two in a hundred have a chip that usually needs repair by a dental technician or a replacement.
Before a new crown is made, the dentist looks for the cause of the chip, because otherwise the new porcelain may crack for the same reason. On back teeth, and in people who clench their teeth, the dentist more often suggests crowns made entirely of one material, or with a thin layer of porcelain only on the side that shows when you smile. These types of crowns chip less often.
Replacing a crown or bridge is prosthetic treatment usually spread over several visits. The dentist removes the old crown, assesses the tooth underneath and, if needed, treats it first.
How the dentist checks your bite and habits
A chip is sometimes the result of overloading, so during the repair the dentist checks your bite, that is how your teeth meet. You bite on a thin strip of coloured bite paper and then move your lower jaw to the sides and forwards. The paper shows where the teeth touch, and the dentist gently grinds and polishes the spots that meet too early or too hard.
The dentist also asks about habits: clenching your teeth under stress, grinding at night, tired jaw muscles in the morning, chewing a pen or cracking seeds with your teeth. Often only the person sleeping next to you knows about night-time grinding, so it is worth asking them before the appointment.
For grinding and clenching, the dentist usually recommends a hard night guard: a cover for the teeth worn at night, known clinically as an occlusal splint. It takes up part of the pressure that would otherwise land on the porcelain. It is not known exactly how much a night guard reduces the risk of another chip. It also does not remove the cause of grinding, but it protects the teeth and crowns at night. If you snore or have sleep apnoea, tell your dentist, because a night guard may make the apnoea worse.
What to do when you notice a chip
When you notice chipped porcelain on a crown, look at the crown in the mirror and go easy on that side when you chew. A small chip that does not hurt only needs to be shown to your dentist within the next few weeks. With pain, a loose crown or bridge, or a crack right through, do not wait longer than 1–2 days. With swelling or fever, come in the same day, and if breathing or swallowing is difficult, call 112.
Whether a repair is enough depends on the size and location of the chip and on whether the framework shows. The cause matters just as much, because how long the repair or a new crown will last depends on it.
Consult your case with an expert and get your treatment plan
Frequently asked questions
Will the chip in the porcelain get bigger?
A chip sometimes gets bigger, because its edge can be sharp and thin and may crumble further as you keep biting. There is no way to predict whether or when this will happen, so even a small chip is worth showing to your dentist. Smoothing the edge at the practice and checking your bite may reduce the risk of the chip getting bigger.
Will the repair be visible?
A well-done repair usually does not catch the eye, but close up it can sometimes be seen. The dentist matches the shade of the composite to the porcelain, but the two materials reflect light differently. Over time, composite may darken from coffee, tea or wine faster than porcelain. A repair is hardest to hide where metal shows under the porcelain.
How long does a composite repair last?
It is not known exactly how long a composite repair will last, so the dentist checks it at follow-up visits. A repair on the chewing surface, which takes the pressure of biting, is more at risk. If the repair chips, it can be redone, and if chips keep coming back, the dentist considers replacing the crown.
Does a bridge have to be removed for a repair?
No, a composite repair is done in the mouth, without removing the bridge. A conventional bridge on prepared teeth usually has to be cut through to remove it, so the dentist does this only when the bridge is due for replacement anyway. A bridge screwed onto implants is different: the dentist can unscrew it, send it to a dental technician for repair and screw it back in.
Does grinding your teeth increase the risk of another chip?
Yes. When you grind and clench your teeth, which is called bruxism, large forces act on the porcelain, including at night, when you have no control over the pressure. With crowns and bridges on implants, bruxism is linked to more frequent damage, especially without a night guard. That is why the dentist asks about grinding and, along with the repair, plans how to protect crowns and implants if you have bruxism.
Can my tongue feel roughness after the repair?
For the first few days your tongue usually notices the new spot, because it picks up every change in shape. Once polished, the repair itself should be smooth. If after a few days you still feel roughness, a step or a sharp edge, come back to the practice. The dentist will usually smooth the spot in a few minutes, without an anaesthetic.
What happens in the first weeks after the bite is adjusted?
After a bite adjustment, that is grinding down the spots that met too hard, your teeth may close a little differently for the first few days. You usually get used to this quickly. If after a week one tooth still touches first, hurts when you bite or reacts to cold, come back for a check.
Read more:
- Prosthetics Warsaw
- Zirconia, all-ceramic or metal-based crown? A comparison of modern prosthetic solutions
- Types of dental bridges — and when each one works
- Night guard types — hard, soft or repositioning splint. How the type is selected
- Bruxism and implants, crowns and veneers: how to protect expensive prosthetic work
Content and liability disclaimer
This article is informational and educational in nature and does not constitute medical advice, a diagnosis or a therapeutic recommendation — it does not replace a consultation with a specialist. If you are experiencing symptoms, have doubts or are facing a decision about treatment, consult a dentist. The methods described and the data cited are general in nature. The results of scientific studies relate to populations, not to an individual patient. The course and outcome of therapy depend on the individual clinical situation and may vary between patients. No information contained in this article constitutes a guarantee of result. The content has been prepared with due care, based on publicly available medical knowledge and the scientific publications indicated in the Sources section. We do not advise taking or refraining from any health-related action solely on the basis of the content of this article, without prior consultation with a doctor.
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