Solutions for Damaged and Worn Teeth

Worn teeth don't have to change your appearance. Your Grand Forks, ND, dentist, Dr. Steven Erlandson offers several cosmetic dentistry treatments that will help you revitalize your smile.

What causes worn teeth?

Your teeth work hard every single day. Without them, it would be impossible to grind, tear and chew food. Wear can cause your teeth to shorten and your smile to lose its natural symmetry. Your teeth can become worn due to:

  • Enamel erosion
  • Years of normal wear and tear
  • Grinding or clenching your teeth while you sleep
  • Abfraction, a condition that occurs when tooth enamel wears away next to the gum line

In addition to affecting the way your smile looks, worn teeth can also change your bite, the way the teeth in your upper and lower jaw fit together.

What can be done to treat worn teeth?

Repairing the damage caused by worn teeth improves the way your teeth look and resolves pain, jaw stiffness, difficulty chewing, and other issues related to biting problems. During your visit to the Grand Forks, ND, dental office, your dentist may recommend one or more of these cosmetic dentistry treatment options:

  • Bonding: During bonding, your dentist adds tooth-colored composite resin to worn areas of your teeth. After the soft material is shaped, your dentist applies a curing light to harden the resin. Once the resin is hardened, it's just as strong as your natural tooth enamel.
  • Dental Crowns: A dental crown covers the top of a tooth completely. A hollow crown can be made from several durable materials, including porcelain, porcelain-fused-to-metal, ceramic, or resin. Crowns restore damaged tooth structure and can extend the length of teeth that have been shortened due to wear and tear. Before you receive a crown, your dentist must make your tooth a little smaller. Reducing the size of the tooth ensures that the crown will fit your mouth comfortably.
  • Veneers: Veneers offer another option if you have worn teeth. The restorations are thin, tooth-shaped shells made of porcelain or plastic. They're cemented to the fronts of your teeth after your dentist removes a tiny amount of tooth enamel, although this step isn't always necessary.

Makeover your smile with cosmetic dentistry treatments! Call (701) 772-6581 to schedule an appointment with your dentist in Grand Forks, ND, Dr. Erlandson.