Do you have a chip in one of your front teeth? Are your damaged teeth impacting your comfort? Whether you have a single chipped tooth or many damaged teeth, we provide treatments for all tooth damage in our Owings Mills dental office.
Treating tooth damage can improve the smile’s appearance and function, restoring the shade and structure of the enamel. Discover more about our treatments for dental injuries, breaks, chips, and cracks in teeth.
How to Treat a Damaged Tooth in Owings Mills
Damage to one tooth can impact the whole look of the smile. We provide multiple cosmetic and restorative treatments to treat one or more damaged teeth in our office:
Porcelain Veneers
Dental veneers are thin, shell-like cosmetic treatments that we bond to the front of the enamel. Patients with broken, chipped, or irregularly shaped teeth benefit from veneers. Dental veneers can also address gaps between teeth, slightly crooked teeth, and dental injuries.
Because we use porcelain ceramic material to create veneers, they blend in with the shape and shade of natural teeth. Color-matching veneers also benefit patients with tooth damage because dental injuries can expose the dark layer of dentin beneath the enamel. Additionally, veneers can protect teeth from further damage.
Dental Bonding
Like veneers, tooth bonding treatments can cover the front of the tooth enamel. We can also apply bonding material to the top or bottom of teeth that require more structure. Our office often recommends bonding for smaller breaks or chips in the tooth enamel.
Bonding is made of a biocompatible tooth-colored material that we match to blend in with the shade of your teeth. Patients who don’t want to commit to veneers also benefit from bonding treatment because they don’t need as much tooth preparation. Bonding is also easily reversible.
Tooth Crowns
Dental crowns can cover larger areas of damage, like tooth fractures and breaks in the enamel. Crowns fully cover single teeth like a cap to strengthen them and protect them from further damage. We customize each dental crown to look and feel natural.
Traditional dental crowns usually have metal materials. However, our modern dental crowns consist of porcelain ceramic and look like real teeth. We color-match the dental crown to blend in with natural teeth. Additionally, dental crowns are great for patients who get root canal treatments and have worn or weakened teeth.
Choosing Between Veneers and Crowns
Both veneers and crowns fix damaged teeth, but they work differently. Veneers mainly cover the front surface of teeth and are great for chips, gaps, or stains. Crowns wrap around the entire tooth and are stronger for badly broken or weakened teeth.
Veneers need less tooth removal than crowns, but crowns provide more protection. During your visit, we’ll examine your tooth and recommend which option will give you the best results. It will be based on how much healthy tooth structure remains and what look you want to achieve.
Dental Implants for Missing or Severely Damaged Teeth
When a tooth is too damaged to save with a crown or bonding, dental implants offer a permanent solution. An implant acts like an artificial tooth root that we place in your jawbone. After it heals, we attach a natural-looking crown on top.
Unlike bridges, implants don’t require altering nearby healthy teeth. They look, feel, and function just like real teeth and can last a lifetime with proper care. We’ll check if you have enough jawbone to support an implant during your consultation.
Fixing Cracked Teeth Before They Worsen
Even small cracks in teeth can turn into larger problems without quick treatment. Temperature changes from hot coffee or ice cream can make tiny cracks expand over time. We use special dyes to find hidden cracks you might not see.
For minor cracks, bonding often does the trick. Deeper cracks might need a crown to prevent the tooth from breaking completely. If the crack reaches the nerve, you might need root canal treatment first before we can restore the tooth properly.
Protecting Teeth After Sports Injuries
If you chip or knock out a tooth playing sports, time is critical. For a completely knocked-out tooth, keep it moist in milk or saliva and get to our office within an hour for the best chance of saving it. We can often reattach teeth if we act fast.
For sports players, we recommend custom mouthguards to prevent future damage. These fit better than store-bought ones and protect all your teeth, not just the front ones. We can make one that’s comfortable enough to wear during any sport.
Ready to Restore Your Smile?
If you have damaged teeth and want a more balanced smile, contact (410) 697-6290. You can also request an appointment with Dr. Ed Lazer online. Please let us know if you have any questions about your treatment options for worn or damaged teeth.