Can Worn Down Teeth Be Fixed?
The reasons for worn down teeth vary, but there are cosmetic solutions for teeth that manifest excessive wear. In most cases, the teeth are worn down because of a larger issue, like aggressive brushing, gastric reflux, or a condition called bruxism, in which patients unconsciously and chronically clench or grind their teeth. Ideally, the cause of excessive wear will be addressed before cosmetic treatments take place, to prevent the dental restorations from sustaining the same damage as the natural teeth. In some cases, the teeth wear down enough that the dentin, the softer surface beneath the enamel, is exposed, which accelerates the progression of deterioration and can cause tooth sensitivity or pain. Combined with the aesthetic concerns that arise when the teeth are visibly damaged, there’s good reason to fix worn down teeth, and there are a few excellent options available. The most common treatments for worn down teeth are porcelain veneers, dental bonding, tooth reshaping, and dental crowns, each of which can be used to rebuild and restore worn down, damaged teeth, returning them to their ideal shape, size, and functionality.
Porcelain veneers are very thin layers of porcelain that cover the fronts of the teeth. They can be used to cover discolorations and stains and elongate and reshape teeth. These porcelain shells are bonded to the surfaces of the teeth and can significantly alter the appearance of the teeth, returning it to the ideal. Treatment with porcelain veneers is minimally invasive and usually requires two office visits. Dental bonding uses composite resin material, similar to the composite resin often used in dental fillings for cavities, to cover imperfections and reshape worn down teeth. This resin material is soft and sculptable, and it matches the color of the teeth, allowing it to easily mask imperfections and making it an ideal material to build up worn down teeth. Bonding can be done in a single office visit and requires no anesthesia; the dentist simply sculpts the bonding resin onto the teeth in the necessary areas, shaping and reshaping the resin and then hardening the material with ultraviolet light. Dental bonding is entirely non-invasive, meaning that the treatment doesn’t require the removal of any of the healthy tooth structure and uses no anesthesia, and the treatment can be completed in a single office visit.
Tooth reshaping is also non-invasive and requires no anesthesia. To reshape the teeth, the dentist will remove small amounts of tooth enamel with a sanding disc or bur, minimizing the tooth’s surface imperfections. Then, the dentist will reshape and smooth the teeth, shortening longer teeth and restoring the curved, natural shape of teeth that have been worn down. If necessary, the dentist may use dental bonding resin to increase the size of the teeth as needed, combining tooth reshaping and cosmetic bonding to create an ideal, even appearance in the teeth. When the teeth have worn down significantly and require a more intensive treatment, dental crowns can be used to cap the damaged teeth and restore their appearance and function. This is the most intensive type of treatment available for worn down teeth and is usually used in more severe cases.
It’s important to remember that the process that caused the teeth to wear down or otherwise sustain damage will similarly destroy the newly reconstructed teeth. If your teeth wore down because of bruxism, your dentist will provide grinding guards for you to wear at night to protect your restorations from the forces of clenching and grinding. If the teeth were compromised in another way, your dentist will discuss treatment for these external causes, possibly working with your primary care provider. Addressing the underlying cause of excessive tooth wear can help keep your new, beautiful teeth strong and attractive for years to come.