As you get older, you start to see and feel the signs of age on your body. First your hair, then your skin, perhaps your joints get a little achy in the damp weather. Then one day you smile in the mirror and realize your teeth are also showing age too, and it’s not so graceful! They’ve started to yellow, and some of them show signs of wear, like tiny chips or grooves on the biting surface.
Further, they’ve started to show some movement – gaps that have gotten bigger, teeth that are crooked when they never used to be. You keep your dental appointments for cleanings and exams, so you know you don’t need fillings to correct any of these issues, but what can you do?
It’s possible that you’re a candidate for cosmetic bonding. There are several situations when bonding may work for you. At Pier Dental Centre, we are happy to examine your teeth and discuss which ones you are concerned about, then determine what treatments are available.
Bonding May Work If…
…You have gaps that are slightly too wide: If your teeth are widening a bit as the years go on, it could be due to a missing tooth in the back of your mouth, even your wisdom teeth. That little bit of room in your jaw gives the teeth enough space to move under normal bite forces. It takes time, but after 15 years or so, you may start to see spaces where they never were before. Cosmetic bonding can close that small gap, or the one between your front teeth if you have it!
…Your teeth are worn from grinding. A sore jaw in the morning, a headache that radiates from your temples, teeth that are worn and yellowed along the gumlines. They all mean one thing: Bruxism. Grinding your teeth wears down enamel, allowing the yellow dentin underneath to show through along the gumlines or even causing wedge-shaped notches in your teeth. Dental bonding can cover the dentin, allowing your teeth to be their whitest again! (Aside from the wear on your teeth, bruxism can be a symptom of oral sleep apnea, so it’s best to get that checked out!) If the biting edges of your teeth are worn too, you may need a crown.
…You have small chips or cracks on prominent teeth. These could be from biting on hard foods or using your teeth as a tool. Bonding can fill and cover these minor imperfections up to a point, however if a tooth is broken, it will need different sort of repair.
Bonding Won’t Fix Everything
Though there are several minor cosmetic problems bonding works well for, it can’t fix large gaps, severe fractures, alignment, or poorly shaped teeth. But Drs. Cegielski and Kherani can create a treatment plan that will work for your teeth, whatever their condition. Regardless of whether you have your teeth bonded or use another cosmetic procedure, you should continue caring for them with excellent dental hygiene including brushing twice daily, flossing, and visiting your dentist at Pier Dental Centre every six months for a checkup and cleaning.
Contact our North Vancouver office to schedule your appointment!
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