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Cosmetic Dentistry Can Restore a Tooth That’s Been Damaged While Playing Sports
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Cosmetic Dentistry Can Restore a Tooth That’s Been Damaged While Playing Sports
Functionality and beauty can be restored to a damaged tooth with cosmetic dentistry. The American Dental Association reports injuries to teeth while participating in sports as the number one reason for damaged teeth in the U.S. and the cause of 13 to 39 percent of adult tooth loss. If your tooth becomes injured while playing sports or any other activity, there are several dental procedures that can be applied to restore it. Read on below for a few of those options but always discuss with Dr. Patel as there may be additional dental solutions that apply to your specific needs.
There are a number of cosmetic dentistry solutions for restoring damaged teeth and what you need will depend on how damaged the tooth is. For example, a tooth that has had a major portion of the structure knocked off or is severely cracked, may need a dental crown in order to hold it in place and to protect it from further damage. Dental crowns come in all-ceramic, ceramic-on-metal, and all-metal so that you can select the material that best suits your needs and the goals you have for your appearance. Most often, the all-ceramic crowns are used on front teeth because they look completely natural.
If your tooth is less damaged with a minor crack or chip, you can typically have it repaired with a dental veneer. This is a thin shell that Dr. Patel places on top of the damaged tooth in order to restore it. Veneers are made in a lab to match the size, color and shape of your natural teeth so that it blends in perfectly. Many of our patients decide to have veneers placed on several of their teeth while correcting the damaged one. This way their teeth can look refreshed and beautiful -- veneers can also close gaps and cover dark stains.
If your tooth has fallen out completely, another cosmetic dentistry solutions we offer is dental bridges. In order for this procedure to work, a crown needs to be placed on the two teeth surrounding the missing one so that the area in between the two teeth can create a bridge to hold the new tooth in place. When this is not an option, we also offer dental implants as a permanent way to replace a missing tooth. This procedure does not depend on any of the surrounding teeth, and the new tooth will be incredibly durable and natural looking.
When playing sports, take steps to protect your teeth and if they become damaged call our office to have them restored quickly. Once you call our office, we will do everything possible to accommodate and schedule your dental emergency. Dr. Patel will start out by taking digital x-rays of the affected tooth and surrounding areas and then examine your teeth and offer a recommendation as to the best way to fix the damage.