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Can Worn-Down Teeth Be Fixed or Do They Have to Be Replaced?
Posted in Dental Crowns
Posted on August 31, 2022 by Dr. Gerald Marlin
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 be an excellent solution to fix worn down teeth with minimal wear, such as teeth that have minor chips, or if you’re looking to fix worn down front teeth or teeth that appear shorter. This dental bonding process is a minimally invasive option that can help restore the shape and look of misshapen teeth, making it an effective worn down teeth treatment for minor cases.
The resin used in dental bonding blends seamlessly with your natural teeth, providing a quick, affordable way to enhance your smile.
However, dental bonding may not be the best solution if you’re dealing with severely worn teeth, especially if your worn down teeth from grinding have caused significant damage. In cases where teeth have worn down to the point where enamel is missing and the dentin, the softer layer beneath the enamel, is exposed, bonding alone may not be enough to restore the tooth.
People with worn teeth from grinding, such as those with worn down molars or back teeth, may need a more durable solution. The constant pressure and grinding may cause dental bonding to wear out quickly.
The material used in dental bonding does not bond as well to dentin, which means it may not provide long-lasting results for those with extensive wear. If you’re wondering how to fix worn down teeth or if worn down teeth can be repaired effectively, your dentist might recommend veneers for worn down teeth or even crowns as a more suitable worn down teeth repair option.
Veneers, for example, offer a more durable and aesthetic solution for those with severely worn teeth or worn down teeth from grinding. If you have worn down back teeth or grinded teeth, consulting your dentist will help you determine the best approach to repair and restore your smile.
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.
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.
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.
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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Through this commitment, Dr. Marlin provides his patients with long-lasting (35 years vs. the national average of 7-10 years) aesthetic restorations so that they have virtually no future problems.
As such, he is a leading specialist in dental implants, cosmetic dentistry, sedation dentistry , and restorative dentistry in the Bethesda–Chevy Chase, Northern Virginia, and Washington DC Metro Area. He has inserted and restored over 3,600 dental implants.
