Posted in Dental Crowns, Porcelain Veneers
Posted on August, 31 2022 by G MarlinCan Worn-Down Teeth Be Fixed or Do They Have to Be Replaced?
Worn-down teeth happen from irregular wear. Most commonly, they occur due to teeth grinding, also called bruxism. Bruxism can happen while a person is awake or asleep and causes significant damage to the teeth.
In most cases, worn-down teeth can be fixed. While restoration options will depend on your unique smile, worn teeth can generally be repaired with the right treatments.
Since worn-down teeth can result in temporomandibular joint issues, tooth sensitivity, and aesthetic changes to your smile, it’s essential to restore teeth if they have been worn down. Fortunately, you have a variety of options for getting your beautiful smile back.
Dental Bonding for Minimal Wear
Dental bonding can help restore teeth with relatively minimal wear, such as those with chips or one or two shortened teeth. The dental bonding process is a minimally invasive option for misshapen or short-looking teeth.
However, dental bonding isn’t an option for moderate-severely worn teeth. When your teeth have worn down to a certain point, the tooth enamel may be missing, and dentin, the softer layer underneath your tooth enamel, is exposed. If you are a severe grinder, bonding, alone, will not last.
The material used in dental bonding doesn’t bond as well to dentin, so people who have teeth with more dramatic wear will need to consider another treatment for their smile restoration process [1].
Dental Veneers to Transform Your Smile
Dental veneers are an excellent tooth restoration option for those who qualify. With dental veneers, you get to keep your natural teeth but completely transform your smile.
Since veneers consist of a thin shell of porcelain ceramic placed over your natural tooth, you can choose which teeth will get veneers. Veneers are stain-resistant and can correct multiple issues with your smile, including worn-down teeth, stained teeth, and even misaligned teeth. At Elite Prosthetic Dentistry, we do not place composite veneers, which, over time, become stained, turn yellow, and are not very strong.
With veneers, you can lengthen your teeth and change their shape, which can restore your appearance if you have worn-down teeth. However, in order to qualify for dental veneers, you must have treated your bruxism and wear a night guard. People who grind their teeth are not good candidates for veneers due to the damage it can do to the restorations [2].
Dental Crowns to Restore Your Teeth
You may be able to cap worn-down teeth with dental crowns. Like veneers, dental crowns allow you to keep your natural teeth. However, while veneers only transform the front of your teeth, dental crowns can restore molars and teeth with chewing surfaces that have been severely worn.
Dental crowns are matched to your unique smile. At Elite, our lab technician works directly with you to craft your custom dental crown. We fabricate all our dental crowns in-house at our private lab, which allows us to deliver unmatched quality to our patients for their tooth restorations.
Crowns may also be used in combination with other treatments for worn-down teeth to provide a comprehensive solution and a fully restored and functional smile [3].
Inlays and Onlays for Abnormal Wear
People with worn-down teeth may also qualify for dental inlays or onlays to restore their smile, which will be crafted at our in-house lab. These porcelain restorations are bonded to your natural teeth and polished to ensure a seamless appearance and the utmost longevity.
Inlays are used to restore the grooved portion of teeth and can help increase tooth strength rather than reducing it as a filling would. Onlays are a bit different in that they help restore the cusps, or points, of your teeth that may have worn down due to bruxism or improper wear.
Both inlays and onlays are simple, minimally invasive treatments that can help restore both the appearance and function of your smile [4].
Learn More About Your Tooth Restoration Options
You don’t have to live with worn-down teeth. Whether you have mild or significant wear, Dr. Marlin, Dr. Talmazov, and their team at Elite Prosthetic Dentistry can customize a treatment plan for you to completely restore your smile for both beauty and function. Get in touch with us to schedule your consultation today.
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