If your teeth begin to wear down over the years, you can quickly lose confidence in your smile. Losing some enamel can result from normal biting and chewing activities, but the effect is generally minimal. Although, for those who are born with soft enamel, or for people who grind their teeth regularly, the loss can be more significant. This can accelerate the appearance of aging and cause embarrassment with your grin.
At your Newport Beach, CA dental practice, we can help you protect your teeth from advanced wear and tear. When you visit our office, we can discuss treatments to return the look of your smile as well as provide solutions to prevent additional damage.
Loss Of Enamel Can Wear On Your Appearance
As you age, you can expect a gradual loss of your enamel, but the process normally takes decades. If you notice this happening at an earlier age, you may question why it is happening. Certain people are simply born with softer enamel, but lifestyle habits can accelerate wear and tear for others. Poor oral hygiene allows plaque deposits to produce acids that chemically erode your enamel and cause cavities. Similarly, certain food and beverages contain acidic material that can wear away at the protective surface layer.
The physical loss of enamel is often the result of bruxism, a tendency to grind and clench your teeth. Based on the root cause of your enamel loss, we can discuss treatments to halt additional wear and improve your current appearance.
Wearing An Oral Guard
To protect against grinding your teeth while you sleep, we can provide an oral guard to protect your smile. By separating each row, an oral guard prevents the ongoing friction of bruxism that wears away your enamel. Made from BPA-free materials, your guard is individually made to comfortably fit your specific bite.
Repairing The Damage Of Wear And Tear
After identifying and treating the source of your enamel loss, we can discuss cosmetic solutions to return the beauty of your smile. Porcelain veneers provide versatile coverage to restore height to worn-down teeth and cover unsightly cracks and chips in their surface. Selecting the shade of your veneer allows us to return a bright white appearance if enamel loss has begun to yellow your teeth. For individual teeth that are significantly damaged, a ceramic crown is a great option for restoring their appearance. This treatment blends in naturally with your natural teeth to complement the rest of your smile.
Speak With Your Newport Beach, CA, Dentist About Treating Damage From Grinding Your Teeth
Losing your enamel to tooth decay or bruxism can have a significant effect on your oral health as well as your appearance. To find out more about our treatments or ask other questions about your oral health, contact Dr. Hofkes at Balboa Dental Surgery at (949) 630-0143 to discuss care today.
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