Damaged Teeth: Are My Teeth Too Far Gone to Benefit from Cosmetic Dental Procedures?

There are many different things that can negatively affect the health and/or appearance of our teeth. Decay and damage caused by trauma to the mouth are two of the most common. Decay eats into our teeth, weakening them and making them more susceptible to cracks, chips, and other damage. Meanwhile, a blunt force trauma to the mouth can cause similar problems, as well as potentially knocking teeth out entirely and leaving you with a gap in your smile. Gum disease can also affect the function and appearance of the teeth, and if left to progress, can cause the gums to recede and pull away from the teeth, exposing roots and putting patients at risk of severe dental issues.

Sometimes dental problems are so significant that it isn’t unusual for a patient to feel that their teeth are so badly damaged that they couldn’t possibly benefit from cosmetic dental procedures to transform the appearance of their smile. Fortunately, the reality is that even if your natural teeth are too badly damaged or decayed to be saved, there are still cosmetic dental procedures that can restore your smile, making it both functional and attractive once more.
 

You will need your oral health issues addressed before you can undergo cosmetic treatments

The most important thing to be aware of is that, if you do have issues with your oral health, you will need to have these addressed before you can undergo whatever cosmetic treatments you wish to have to transform your smile. Carrying out cosmetic treatment on teeth that aren’t perfectly healthy isn’t generally recommended. This is because not only can they be pointless, as unhealthy teeth could become so damaged that they require extraction or fall out of their own accord, but some cosmetic treatments can actually accelerate the problems that you are experiencing. For example, carrying out whitening treatment on teeth with areas of decay can cause severe pain and irritation to the tooth as the bleach can reach the inner, sensitive layers.

If you have oral health issues, your dentist will work with you to rectify these before you start a cosmetic dentistry plan to improve the overall appearance of your teeth.
 

Some dental treatments are both functional and cosmetic

Many people don’t realize that some dental treatments can be used to restore the function and appearance of your teeth. This enables you to achieve two elements of your smile transformation in a single treatment. Some great examples of this include:

Porcelain crowns. Crowns have long been a preferred treatment for restoring teeth that have been too badly decayed for a filling or are cracked and broken. They can also cover teeth that are severely eroded. However, modern many crowns are made from either 100% porcelain or porcelain fused to metal and are custom designed to perfectly replicate the shape, size, and color of a healthy natural tooth. This helps them to blend seamlessly into the patient’s smile, restoring the strength and appearance of the tooth.

Dental implants. Dental implants are one of the most popular ways of replacing teeth that have been extracted or fallen out. Unlike other tooth loss solutions, dental implants don’t rely on neighboring teeth for support but instead are anchored into the jawbone using a titanium post, which replicates the natural tooth root. The visible part of the solution is a porcelain crown, which again is customized to look just like a healthy, natural tooth. The dental implant technique can even be used for bridges and partial/full dentures as well as single missing teeth.

Dental veneers. Veneers are thin, porcelain shells that are placed over the enamel of the outer face of the teeth and are designed to cover chips, cracks, stains, and other minor imperfections. However, they can also be used to close small gaps between teeth which could be prime areas for decay and gum disease to occur, as well as making teeth more uniform in height, thickness, and overall appearance. They also add an extra layer of strength to your natural teeth.

Orthodontic solutions. Many people live with the misconception that braces or other orthodontic treatments are only recommended to alter the appearance of the teeth so that they look more attractive. However, while orthodontic treatment will enhance the beauty of your smile, it will also help to address issues that could be putting your oral health at risk. For example, teeth that are gapped, crooked, and overlapping are more likely to develop areas of decay and patients are at high risk of developing gum disease. By undergoing orthodontic treatment, patients can receive functional and cosmetic benefits.

If you are worried that your teeth are too far gone to benefit from cosmetic dental treatment, don’t stress. Speak to our expert dental team and let us help you rediscover your smile.