How to Restore Your Smile After Tooth Damage
Tooth damage can change the look of your smile. To maintain the function of your teeth, the look of your smile, and your confidence with our smile you can get your smile restored after damage. To restore your smile use teeth whitening treatments, get a dental crown, or get composite bonding.
Use Teeth Whitening Treatments
Typically, when your teeth are repaired, they are done to match the color of your other teeth. However, if you have tooth damage, you may consider using teeth whitening treatments to help you achieve a completely white smile. Your daily habits can also affect the whiteness of your smile because many foods and drinks can change the color of your teeth. Teeth whitening works by using carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. These compounds break down bonds of stains on your teeth which “bleaches” them away. This may take a couple of treatments depending on how stained your teeth are. Sometimes fluoride is also used to reduce tooth sensitivity.
Get a Dental Crown
A dentist may recommend a dental crown to repair your damaged tooth. Dental crowns work by being placed over your damaged tooth which can give it support and help improve the look. These can also be used for worn out teeth, misshapen teeth, or discolored teeth. Crowns can cover the entire tooth, down to the gumline. There are many metals used to make dental crowns other than gold. Nickel, palladium, and chromium can also be used to make crowns. Metal crowns are long lasting and don’t require much of the tooth to be removed. Porcelain is a common option for crowns which can be colored to match your teeth and can be pure porcelain or secured to a metal base.
Composite Bonding
Composite bonding is a process that repairs teeth using material similar in color to the enamel. This can be for damaged, discolored, or decaying teeth. For decayed teeth, the dentist will drill the tooth to remove the decay. The composite material is applied to the surface of the tooth and shaped to match. The composite is then “bonded” on to the tooth by the dentist who will utilize a high-intensity light to finish the process.
Your smile is an important part of you and your confidence. Tooth damage can have a big impact. To restore your smile after damage use teeth whitening treatments, get a dental crown, or composite bonding.
Check out this article on why brushing alone can’t keep your teeth clean!