If you have suffered facial trauma, cosmetic dentistry has many treatments and prosthetics that can be used to restore the appearance of your face and teeth. Such injuries can be the result of accidents like vehicle crashes or hard contact from sports like football and mixed martial arts.
These injuries can be psychologically traumatizing as they affect how one feels about themselves. They can also leave a person with a severely damaged jaw or teeth that no longer work as designed.
Cosmetic dentistry treatments used to address facial trauma
Here are some common injuries that can lead to facial trauma and how cosmetic dentistry addresses them:
1. Injured tooth
Damaged blood vessels in a tooth's pulp often lead to the tooth becoming discolored. It can also hinder the blood supply to the area and lead to nerve damage. Such injuries often affect the inner layer of the tooth called the dentin, as well as the enamel.
When the damage to a tooth affects the blood vessels, the treatment options include:
- Root canal therapy to save the damaged tooth
- Veneers might be used to improve the appearance of the discolored tooth. These are thin tooth-shaped casings that are used to cover the front part of a person's tooth. It hides any imperfections on the tooth's front surface, including discoloration
- Whitening treatments might be used if the tooth is responsive to bleaching agents
- Crowns can be used to guard the tooth against further damage and restore its appearance
2. Chipped and fractured teeth
A tooth can become chipped or fractured as a result of a hard blow to the mouth. A chipped tooth that does not get past the enamel is not a dental emergency, but it does require treatment.
The treatment used for chipped or fractured teeth often depends on the severity of the damage. These include:
- Veneers are a versatile prosthetic that can be used to treat chipped teeth as well. They are typically used for less severe chips where the damage only affects the outer layers of the patient's teeth
- Composite bonding can also be used to treat chips. This is a putty-like substance that is applied to the damaged tooth. It is molded as desired and hardened with a special light. Dental bonding is one of the least invasive procedures used in cosmetic dentistry. It typically does not require the use of anesthetics
- If the damage to the tooth is severe, a crown will be used instead. These prosthetics cover the entire part of the tooth that is visible above the gums. Crowns are without a doubt the most versatile oral prosthetic used in dentistry
3. Knocked out tooth
A knockout tooth always counts as a dental emergency. It is typically the result of a blow hard enough to knock a tooth right out of its socket.
In some cases, a knocked out tooth can be reattached. When that is not an option, dental implants are the preferred way to deal with them. Bridges and dentures can also be used to replace a lost tooth.
Come get the treatment you need
Dealing with any of the injuries discussed above? Stop by our Bayside clinic and explore your options.
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Request an appointment here: https://www.dazzlemysmile.com or call Dazzling Smile Dental Group at (718) 841-9535 for an appointment in our Bayside office.
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