End The Embarrassment Of A Single Unsightly Tooth
Have you ever thought, “I love my smile, but I hate that one tooth!”
Having one problem tooth can make you feel like your years of dental visits and good hygiene don’t mean a thing. All people see is that one bad tooth that calls attention to itself.
If this is a problem you are familiar with, we have good news. A damaged or malformed tooth does not have to stay that way. There are easy, fast solutions available that can quickly make your smile more symmetrical and attractive.
Chipped And Broken Teeth
As we age, tooth enamel becomes more brittle. Biting and chewing on hard foods that once were no problem may unexpectedly break a tooth and hit you with a case of dental anxiety: Are all my teeth going to start breaking? Am I starting to fall apart? Is this how it starts? Am I on a fast road to dentures?
Panic attacks aside, having a broken or chipped tooth is bad for many reasons. It can detract from your confidence in your appearance and in your ability to bite and chew your food. It can also weaken the tooth and make it more vulnerable to decay and infection. Teeth suddenly breaking may feel like a serious catastrophe, but it’s actually very common for adults to sustain this type of damage. In many cases, the tooth can be restored with a dental crown. These tooth-shaped protective caps give you a durable artificial tooth that will harmonize with your smile and give you a reliable biting or chewing surface for years to come. Crowns are typically made of strong dental porcelain, metal, or porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM). Unlike your natural teeth, crowns do not stain like natural enamel, nor are they susceptible to cavities.
Porcelain veneers are another option for correcting a damaged tooth. These ultra-thin ceramic shells fit over the front of a tooth, to create a brand-new surface for the world to see. They are every bit as durable as dental crowns, but do not encircle the whole tooth.
When you come to Maple Grove Dentistry, Dr. Russell Jensen will examine your tooth and suggest one of these treatments, based on the condition of the tooth and the extent of the damage.
Malformed Teeth
Teeth that naturally look a little different from their peers offer their own unique frustrations. The tooth may be too short, have an unusually ridged edge, or may be significantly smaller than your other teeth. Individual teeth can also appear to be a darker color than your other teeth. In all these cases, a dental crown or porcelain veneer can be crafted to match the surrounding teeth and hide the natural appearance of the malformed tooth.
About Dental Crowns And Veneers
Dental crowns and porcelain veneers are considered a permanent treatment for teeth. In order to be permanently affixed to your tooth, a small amount of enamel must be resurfaced. This means that once you get a crown or veneer, you won’t be able to go back to not having one, as the treated enamel may be sensitive and will be more vulnerable to damage.
Crowns and veneers typically take two dental appointments. At the first appointment, Dr. Jensen will conduct the examination, take x-rays, and resurface the tooth enamel. He will also take a dental impression, which will be used to create the restoration in an off-site laboratory. A temporary crown or veneer will be affixed to the tooth before you go home. After one-to-two weeks, the permanent crown or veneer will be ready and we will call you in for the second appointment.
You Can Fix That Tooth!
If you have a broken, chipped, or malformed tooth, you may feel like hiding your smile—but that’s no way to live. Your smile is the most basic way you reach out to others in the world; it tells people you are open, friendly, and ready to interact. When you are embarrassed about an aspect of your smile, you might spend a lot of effort trying to hide the problem, but we want you to know that am easy solution is in reach.