Teeth whitening helps address stained teeth, but what if you also have a chipped or misshapen tooth? In today’s blog, your Ankeny, IA, dentist discusses how we improve the beauty and function of a smile in a single visit with dental bonding and contouring.
First, we want to touch on damaged teeth. You should always talk to your dentist if you chip a tooth. Even if the chip or fracture looks very minor, that doesn’t mean it hasn’t exposed sensitive inner dentin to harmful bacteria. Over time, this minor injury could mean a painful cavity or infection, one that could become more severe with time and even threaten the tooth’s stability. Always contact our team for an exam to see if you need treatment, and try to limit the risk of injury by wearing a mouthguard when playing sports.
Dental bonding offers repair and cosmetic improvement in just one visit. The material we use is composite resin, which is also used in our tooth-colored dental fillings. The material is a metal-free mix of glass and acrylic that is durable, strong, and able to be shaded to match the color of your tooth. After we clean the tooth and etch the surfaces, we prepare and apply the material in several layers. We then sculpt the tooth as the composite resin cures under a light. The final step involves polishing the tooth for a more attractive appearance. In addition to repairing chips, we also lengthen worn-down teeth, close gaps between them, reshape malformed or damaged teeth, and even mask permanent teeth stains, the kind that wouldn’t otherwise respond to teeth whitening.
We also contour the teeth, sometimes in the same visit. With contouring, we don’t add to the tooth, instead we gently sand and buff away small sections of outer structure to address cosmetic concerns. For example, we could correct the appearance of minor chips, improve malformed or misshapen teeth, and reshape overly large teeth. We also help dull sharp or pointed teeth, and even remove pits, grooves, and rough patches from the outer surfaces. If you have any questions about our cosmetic treatment options, or if you would like to schedule a consultation for yourself or a member of your family, then please contact our team today.
We want to help you enjoy a strong and beautiful smile with cosmetic dentistry. To learn more about bonding and contouring, then please schedule an appointment by calling Peddicord Family Dentistry in Ankeny, IA, today at (515) 963-3339. We also proudly serve patients of all ages who live in Bondurant, Polk City, and all surrounding communities.
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