Month: October 2023

Tooth enamel is the hard outer layer of teeth that protects them from the forces of chewing and biting. Without enamel protection, teeth become vulnerable to decay and damage.

When a tooth is chipped, the enamel is compromised. Since enamel isn’t a living tissue, it can’t regenerate or repair itself. If the damage is extensive enough to erode the enamel or potentially weaken the jawbone, it’s essential to see a dentist.

Causes of Enamel Damage

Several factors can damage tooth enamel, including:

• Consuming acidic foods and beverages
• Brushing teeth too aggressively
• Grinding teeth during sleep
• Exposure to pollutants or certain chemicals
• Reasons for a Chipped Tooth

Common causes of chipped teeth include:

• Tooth Decay: Acid formation in the mouth, caused by bacteria and food debris, leads to tooth decay. This can weaken teeth, making them more susceptible to chipping.
• Trauma to the Face: A hard blow or trauma to the face, such as from a fall, can result in a chipped tooth.
• Bad Bite: Biting down on hard objects can weaken teeth, increasing the risk of them chipping.
• Bad Habits: Habits like nail-biting or teeth-grinding can contribute to teeth chipping over time.

Treatments for Enamel Damage

The best defense against enamel damage is prevention. However, if enamel is already damaged, there are treatments available:

• Dental Bonding: This involves applying a tooth-colored resin to the damaged area to protect it from further harm.
• Veneers: These porcelain shells bond to the front of teeth, covering any chips or cracks in the enamel.
• Dental Crowns: For extensively damaged teeth, dental crowns, which act as caps, cover the entire tooth, providing added protection.

Prevention Tips

Prevention is key. Adopting good oral hygiene habits can prevent many dental issues. Here are some tips to protect enamel:

• Limit Acidic Foods and Beverages: These can erode enamel. After consuming acidic items, rinse your mouth to minimize damage.
• Brush Gently: Aggressive brushing can wear down enamel. Use a soft-bristled brush and be gentle.
• Use Fluoride Products: Fluoride strengthens enamel, making it more resistant to damage. Many toothpastes and mouthwashes contain fluoride. Consult your dentist about appropriate fluoride use.
• Stay Hydrated: Saliva protects against cavities. A dry mouth can increase the risk of cavities and other dental issues. Drinking water helps maintain saliva production and can prevent tooth decay.

Final Thoughts

Once lost, enamel doesn’t grow back. A chipped tooth can impact both your appearance and confidence. The best way to prevent chipping is to strengthen your teeth. A diligent dental routine, combined with regular dental check-ups, can save both time and money. With proper care, enamel can withstand germs, erosion, and even blunt force.

However, if you do damage your enamel or chip a tooth, seek dental care promptly. Ignoring dental problems can exacerbate the damage and prolong the healing process. Along with a solid oral care routine, dietary precautions can also play a significant role in maintaining strong teeth.

 

We all want a pretty smile, and most of us will have one aspect of our teeth that we do not like. In pursuit of that dream smile, we turn to dental procedures like composite bonding and veneers. Both options sound very similar, but the two have a few differences. They both belong to a branch of dentistry called cosmetic dentistry which aids in enhancing the appearance of your teeth.

 

Both bonding and veneers correct similar teeth issues such as gaps, fractures, chips, discoloration, or misshapen teeth. So what makes them different? Let us learn more about these cosmetic procedures, their differences, and which option suits you the best.

What is Cosmetic Dentistry?

Standard dentistry is geared towards repairing our teeth with treatments like fillings, root canals, etc., to keep our teeth from decaying and make them last longer. On the other hand, cosmetic dentistry aims to improve the aesthetics of your teeth.

Different techniques are used in cosmetic dentistry to fix various issues, such as removing small gaps between dentitions, improving the gum line, or making your teeth whiter.

Some of the standard procedures in this branch of dentistry are dental bonding, veneers, and teeth whitening.

You could go for cosmetic dental treatments if you have healthy teeth and gums. If you have excessive or severe gum disease, your dentist will address them before going for cosmetic procedures.

Composite Bonding Explained

• Composite bonding is a white filling and has been practiced for many years. Earlier, it was used to fix the back of teeth.
• With the advent of modern dental technologies, this procedure can now be done to front teeth as well.
• Your doctor would opt for this treatment to correct minor problems with the edges of a tooth, for instance, chips and cracks.
• Dental bonding can also be used to fill small gaps between teeth.
• The treatment involves first preparing the teeth by cleaning them and then applying an acidic gel on the surface of the tooth so that the filling material adheres to it properly.
• The color of the material used for fixing your tooth would be matched as close as possible to the natural color of your teeth.
• The doctor would then apply the resin to your tooth and then harden it with blue light so that it sets firmly.
• Finally, the resin is polished and molded to fit the shape of your tooth.

Benefits And Disadvantages of Composite Bonding

Benefits:

• It is non-invasive and needs just a single visit to the dentist.
• The results are natural and blend well with your natural tooth color.
• The structure of your underlying tooth is not hampered with this procedure which ensures you retain your natural teeth’s strength.
• This is a reversible treatment, so your dentist can rectify it in case of problems.

Disadvantages:

• It works only on the edges of teeth, so it can not be used on teeth with severe problems.
• It requires more effort to maintain composite bonding for a long time.

Composite Veneer Explained

• Composite Veneers are composed of composite resin and custom-made for each patient.
• These tooth laminates are designed to cover the entire tooth.
• They can treat various cosmetic dental problems, such as damaged, discolored, irregularly shaped, chipped, cracked, and misaligned teeth.
• Your dentist would apply the material directly on your tooth’s front surface and then mold it to fit your tooth’s shape.
• Finally, the doctor would finely shape the veneers and polish them to their desired appearance.
• The procedure can be easily repeated for adding or removing the composite in the initial appointment or a follow-up.

Benefits And Disadvantages of Composite Bonding

Benefits:

• These can be completed on the first visit.
• The results are much more aesthetic and natural than composite bonding.
• They are cheaper than their porcelain version and do the same job.
• They last longer than composite bonding.

Disadvantages:

• It is more invasive than dental bonding as the tooth beneath the veneer has been shaved down and lost part of its enamel (protective layer of a tooth).
• You still need to redo them every four to six years, though if you properly care for them, they can last up to ten years.

Conclusion

Both composite bonding and composite veneer use the same material, but the procedures vary. Composite bonding can cover small chips as they go only over the edges of your tooth, whereas composite veneers can cover the entire tooth. Both have their pros and cons, as discussed in the article, and which one you choose would depend on your specific needs.

Wisdom teeth, also known as “third molars” are the last set of adult dentitions to grow. These pearly whites are located at the back of our mouths. Not all of us have wisdom teeth; about fifty-three per cent of people have at least one wisdom tooth, and some of us never develop any wisdom teeth in our lives.

Many of us get complications from our third molars, such as overcrowding or impaction (where the third molars push into another tooth or gums). This can cause decay and infections resulting in pain, bad breath, and difficulty chewing. In such cases, your dental professional might recommend extraction of these pearly whites.

If you are wondering whether third molars can grow back after extraction, we will throw light on this question and other information about third molars in this article.

All About Wisdom Teeth

We get our third molars, usually between seventeen to twenty-five years of age.

• Some of us can have these dentitions completely impacted in our gums or jawbone and might not be able to see them when we look inside our mouths.
• Third, molars need to be removed often because either they do not erupt fully from the gums, cause overcrowding and push into our gums or other teeth, come in crooked, or do not erupt at all.
• A partially erupted third molar can cause a bacterial infection known as pericoronitis.
• If a third molar does not erupt, it can form a cyst that can damage our gum tissues and bones.
• If you have a crooked third molar, it can cause misalignment when you bite and permanently damage dentitions adjacent to it.
• We do not really need third molars, and dentists consider them vestigial. They would have served some purpose at one time (for our ancestors), but that is not true anymore. Since our ancestors ate a lot of raw foods, hard nuts, and hard meat, they needed third molars to grind these tough foods for proper digestion.

Will I Grow Back My Wisdom Teeth After They Are Extracted?

In short, the answer is No; once they are removed, our third molars never grow back. But there is a caveat.e., you might have an extra pair of third molars lying in wait.

• These extra wisdom dentitions may erupt after your original ones have been pulled out. These dentitions are known as supernumerary teeth.
• There is about a two per cent chance of anyone having supernumerary pearly whites.
• These dentitions can appear anywhere in the mouth and usually show up in X-rays, so they are not typically a surprise.

Hyperdontia – A Condition Where Extra Teeth Grow in Your Mouth

When too many extra or supernumerary pearly whites grow in your mouth, it leads to a condition termed hypodontia.

• These dentitions grow in the curved areas where our teeth attach to the jaw.
• The first twenty pearly whites that we get in our lives are called primary or deciduous dentitions.
• We then get thirty-two adult teeth that replace the primary ones, and they are known as permanent teeth.
• You could have either extra primary or permanent dentitions, but in general extra primary dentitions are more common.
• The primary symptom of hypodontia is the appearance of extra teeth either directly behind or close to your permanent or primary detentions.
• Hyperdontia is twice more liable to occur in men than in women.
• You usually do not need any treatment for Hyperdontia, but in some cases, a few or all of the extra dentitions need to be removed.
• If you feel any pain, swelling, discomfort, or weakness in your mouth due to Hyperdontia, you must contact your dental professional for help.

Why Do Most Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Pulled Out?

By the time you get your first four wisdom teeth, there is not enough space in the jaw to accommodate these dentitions. Due to lack of space, several problems arise, as listed below:

• The third molars are not able to move into their proper position as other dentitions are in the way.
• The wisdom teeth might align horizontally or not in place, which would prevent them from erupting from the jawbone. If third molars do not erupt, they result in other conditions such as:
  • You might experience pain or stiffness in the jaw.
  • Your gum tissue might swell, be inflamed, or be infected.
  • Due to partially erupted detentions, you might have sensitive or painful gums.
  • The third molars might irritate other parts of your mouth.
  • These teeth can cause other teeth to move out of position.

Conclusion

Wisdom teeth might need extraction due to several reasons, as explained in this article. The original third molars never grow back, but you might have additional loans lurking within, which can grow once your doctor removes the original third molars.