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Heart Health: Don't Neglect Dental Care

Heart disease runs in my family, and I have been determined my entire life to not become a statistic. I eat well, and I exercise every day. I also visit my general practitioner every year for a full health check-up. One day, when discussing my family history of heart disease, my doctor asked me how often I visited the dentist. This was not a question I expected. I told her that I hadn't been to one in a while. She told me that a large part of keeping my heart in good shape was keeping my teeth healthy, and that I should start going to the dentist every 6-months. I researched online and found out how right she was! Now, I never skip a dental check-up. I created this blog to help others with heart problems in their families realize how important dental care is for them.

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Heart Health: Don't Neglect Dental Care

Three Options For Fixing Uneven Or Chipped Teeth

27 December 2015
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

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Your teeth don't have to be crooked to be uneven. If your smile seems off because of chipped tips or teeth that aren't all the same size, braces aren't a viable solution. Instead, you will need to work with a cosmetic dentist to find a way to even up the teeth. There are several options available, and the guide below will provide some of the details to help you choose the best one for you.

Option #1: Reshaping

This procedure leaves you with only your natural tooth, but it is only suitable in some instances. If you have a tooth that is slightly longer than its neighbors and it has a thick layer of enamel, then reshaping via filing is a suitable option. Your dentist will smooth the tooth and take off some of the excess length with a series of files, each with a slightly finer grit. The result is a smooth tooth that is shaped to blend in better with the other teeth in your mouth. This can also be used for small chips that don't go deeper than the enamel. Once contoured and shaped, your dentist will polish the tooth. You may have some heat and cold sensitivity at first since some enamel was lost in the process.

Option #2: Bonding

Bonding is a good solution if a tooth needs to be made longer to match its neighbors. It also works well for patching more severe chips. Your dentist will use a special composite resin material to form a new layer over your tooth. They will roughen up the enamel so the resin sticks to your tooth, shape it, and then harden it in the office using a special curing light. The resin can be mixed to match your natural tooth color, although it can become stained over time. It is also possible for the bond to come off.

Option #3: Veneers

Veneers are more expensive compared to bonding or reshaping, but they are the best choice if you have multiple teeth to fix. Veneers are also a good choice if you have discolored teeth that can't be whitened. The cosmetic dentist creates thin veneers that are uniform in size and fit over your teeth. Your enamel is then filed down to a thin layer, and the veneers are adhered over the teeth. Veneers are permanent. Since your enamel is thinned in the process, you will need to keep your veneers for the rest of your life.