If you have damaged or unsightly teeth, then you are probably wondering what you can do to restore your smile. While brushing and flossing are vital to your oral health, they won’t help you deal with severe discoloration, chips, cracks, and internal damage. To treat those, you might want to consider porcelain crowns or veneers. Those two types of devices can completely transform your smile, but there are a few key differences to be aware of. Well before you have your restorative procedure is carried out, you should spend a little bit of time learning about all of your treatment options.
Common Causes of Tooth Damage
Tooth damage is exceedingly common, and almost everyone will deal with at least a few oral health problems over the years. Tooth discoloration is a pervasive cosmetic issue that can be caused by a few different things. Surface stains are typically the result of the foods that you eat and your daily oral hygiene habits, and they can usually be taken care of with professional whitening treatments. Severe internal discoloration, on the other hand, is often caused by infections, root damage, or even certain medications. To treat those issues, you will most likely need to meet with an experienced Riverside dentist to discuss veneers, crowns, and other treatments.
Veneers
A veneer is a thin piece of porcelain that is attached directly to the front of a tooth. Before the veneer is put in place, the dentist will remove a thin layer of the outer enamel so that the veneer settles in the correct position. They will then create a 3D or physical mold of the tooth and send that off to a manufacturer. During the follow-up appointment, the veneer will be attached to the front of the tooth with a powerful bonding agent. Once in place, it can be cared for just as if it was a natural tooth, and those devices can last a lifetime.
The biggest benefit of a veneer is the fact that it is a simple treatment process that generally produces amazing results. A veneer completely covers the front of a tooth, and that means none of the imperfections or blemishes are going to be visible. Unfortunately, attaching a veneer to the tooth requires some alterations to the enamel, and that means the veneer must be on that tooth for the rest of the patient’s life.
Crowns
Porcelain crowns are very similar to veneers, but they cover an entire tooth instead of just the front edge. Much like making a veneer, your Riverside dentist will begin the procedure by cleaning and altering the outside of the tooth. If there is any damaged material, then that will be removed as well. As soon as those steps have been taken, a 3D or physical mold will be made and sent to another facility where the custom crown can be made.
To install a crown, a bonding agent will be applied to the outer enamel before the device is placed over the tooth. Once the crown is in place, you might completely forget that it is there. It is going to look just like a real tooth, and crowns usually last for years with the proper oral hygiene habits.
Your Path to a Beautiful Smile
To learn more about these devices, you should contact your dentist today to schedule a consultation. In addition to helping you improve your oral health, those devices can also have a huge impact on the appearance of your teeth. Once the damage has been fixed, you will once again be able to eat, speak, and smile with confidence.
