Can Worn Down Teeth Be Fixed?
You can develop several dental problems from having worn down teeth, some tooth damage or tooth loss. Dental cavities and gum disease are the most frequent and common oral health problems. Bruxism, or chronic teeth clenching and grinding, is a condition that will also seriously harm your teeth.
A primary cause for worn down teeth is erosion, or tooth loss from exposure to acidic substances. These acids can be internal, coming directly from your body from vomiting or acid reflux, or externally from food and beverages, like acidic fruits and soft drinks. Tooth on tooth wear is also the result of your clenching or grinding.
With continuous friction day after day, your teeth will begin to wear down naturally. With this abrasion, the back teeth will become flatter, and your front teeth can become shorter. Severe attrition will affect your facial appearance from the loss of tooth structure.
When the protective enamel on your teeth is worn away, the nerves in the dentin can be exposed. Worn-down teeth can result in extreme sensitivity to some food and drinks and will become painful when brushing your teeth.
The dental industry now offers cosmetic solutions to restore worn-down and broken teeth to their natural shape, length, and function. Your dentist might use dental bonding, veneers, or dental crowns to rebuild your teeth and your natural and healthy smile so you can enjoy it once again.
Treatment Options for Worn Down Teeth
Tooth Reshaping- This option is the most conservative. Worn down teeth that are now flat are reshaped to recreate the natural curves of your youthful teeth. The treatment requires no anesthesia. For teeth with chips that are worn flat and appear aged, tooth reshaping is a simple solution to recreate a more natural and healthy smile.
Dental Bonding- Cosmetic tooth bonding uses the same composite resin that is used often to fill and repair cavities. Composed of a pliable, tooth-colored material, dental bonding can easily cover many imperfections in a tooth, such as cracks, chips in the enamel or discolorations. It can reshape a tooth that is worn down from normal wear and tear that happens often with aging.
Dental bonding does not require anesthesia, can be completed in just one office visit, and is an extremely easy and also conservative treatment for correcting any dental imperfections, since it is applied without removing any of your existing healthy enamel.
Porcelain Veneers- While dental bonding is a reasonable choice in many cosmetic situations, porcelain veneers are durable and stain-resistant for correcting worn down teeth and other imperfections. Veneers are thin porcelain shells that cover just the front surface of your teeth, and can be used to hide imperfections, lengthen, and reshape your teeth. The treatment usually takes two office visits.
No matter the cause for your teeth wearing down in the first place, the same issues can easily reoccur and contribute to you again wearing down your newly restored teeth. Once you have had your worn-down teeth restored you might wish to consider wearing a mouth guard at night to protect your teeth from any possible wear and tear.