A tooth that is chipped or cracked can detract from the beauty of a smile and could present oral health issues in the future. Cracked teeth can cause cuts in the mouth, give decay a place to hide, and a tooth that is weakened by a crack could break further under the normal pressure of eating and speaking. So what can your dentist do to mend your cracked tooth? There are three main solutions for cracked teeth:
Porcelain Veneers
A veneer is a thin shell of porcelain that is cemented to the front surface of a tooth to change its appearance. Veneers can mask chips, cracks, discoloration, gaps, and a number of other cosmetic dentistry issues. Porcelain veneers are very popular, especially among famous actors and public figures, due to their ability to transform a smile.
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is often the fastest and least expensive way to mend a cracked tooth. With bonding, the dentist applies a tooth-colored resin material to the tooth and sculpts it into shape so that it matches the shape of a patient’s natural teeth.
Dental Crowns
If a tooth is deeply cracked, broken, or vulnerable after a root canal, a dentist may opt to use a dental crown. Crowns are fitted over the entire surface of a tooth, so they lend much more structural support than porcelain veneers and bonding and are a better choice for severely damaged teeth.
Whatever the cause of your cracked tooth, a good cosmetic dentist will be able to offer you a range of solutions. When considering cracked tooth solutions, it is important to take a number of factors into account. How damaged is the tooth? What is your budget? Does the crack show when you smile? When discussing cracked tooth solutions with your dentist, be honest about your needs and goals so that you can arrive at the right treatment plan together.
Source:
American Dental Association,Veneers
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Your dentist can offer you a variety of ways to mend your cracked tooth, including porcelain veneers, dental bonding, and dental crowns.
Find out how a dentist can help transform your smile.