When you have teeth worn down by issues like bruxism, or one that is damaged or decayed, then you need treatment. With restorative dentistry, our team can address the wear and tear and protect smiles from major complications. In today’s blog, your Leawood, KS, dentist talks about our custom dental restorations and how they can take on wear and tear on one or more of your teeth!
Dental Wear and Tear
When a tooth is injured, whether due to factors like injury or teeth grinding, this could compromise the outer enamel, the layer that protects the inner dentin and pulp. As a result, your tooth is more likely to develop tooth decay or even dental infection. Not to mention the impact damaged teeth could have on your smile’s appearance. We urge you to see our team right away when you have a chipped, cracked, or broken tooth. Also, be sure to make an appointment, when you have tooth sensitivity or a toothache that doesn’t subside after a day or two, as this could indicate decay or even infection.
Dental Emergencies
Sometimes, your injury happens due to a dental emergency, which could happen when playing sports or just as a result of an accident. When this happens, rinse with warm water and use cloth or gauze to stem any bleeding. A cold compress could control facial swelling. Try to recover any pieces of your damaged tooth and bring them with you if possible. If your injury happens outside for normal business hours, then call our team and leave a message. We will reach out with a time to see you and offer repair.
The Examination Process
The repair process starts with a dental exam. We want to thoroughly assess the cause and severity of your injury, so we can plan the treatment in detail. Every smile is unique, so we take a personalized approach to our dental restorations, creating fillings and corns that bond with the tooth and offer a lifelike appearance.
Dental Fillings
If you have a cavity, then our team can offer treatment with a dental filling. Instead of metal, we have a metal-free material that is safe for all ages. Composite resin blends glass-like and acrylic-like particles. This material can be shaded to blend with your tooth. We will numb the tooth, remove the decay, and then apply the material in several layers. We then sculpt and mold the tooth as the material cures under a light. The last step is to polish the tooth for a brighter appearance. In one visit, we can treat a cavity!
Bonding
The same composite resin can be used to repair minor damage too. The dental bonding treatment process is the enamel, but instead of using it to treat cavities, we can repair wear and tear in one sitting., Our team can reshape malformed teeth, repair minor cracks or chips, and even fill gaps between the teeth.
Custom Crowns
To take on major dental damage, we could place a dental crown. The restoration caps the tooth and covers the entire visible portion. We often craft them with materials like all-porcelain for the front facing teeth as this is the most lifelike option. The side and rear teeth must endure greater bite forces, so our team could instead use porcelain-fused-to-metal or zirconia, both of which can also be shaded to blend with the tooth.
The placement process starts with our team numbing the tooth and then removing structure to make room for the dental restoration. Once we do, we will take detailed digital images and impressions, which we use in a lab setting to design and fabricate your new dental restoration. When your crown is ready, we will check the fit and make any necessary adjustments before placing it with a powerful bonding agent. Your new crown can stay in place for years to come and offer a lifelike appearance.
If you have any questions about how our team will address wear and tear in your teeth with our custom dental restorations, or if you have an injured or aching tooth that needs treatment, then contact our team today to learn more and get started.
Schedule a Visit to Repair Wear and Tear
Our team wants to help you enjoy a smile that looks great and is properly balanced too, which is why we offer custom restorations to address damage or dental emergencies. To learn more about our custom dental restorations or to schedule your next visit with us, call Dreem Dentistry in Leawood, KS, today at (913)681-5500.
