Verywell Health says that you have at least ten excellent reasons to smile. From improving your moods to helping ease pain, benefitting your immune system, and possibly even lengthening your life, these are some of the top reasons people should consider smiling more often.
For some individuals, however, smiling isn’t as easy because they may be overly conscious of their teeth’s appearance. If you’re among these folks, you’ll be happy to know that you have several smile-enhancing options, including dental veneers in Rochester, NY.
Join us here at Albee Family Dental as we explore the many perks and pros of porcelain veneers Rochester, NY, residents can enjoy.
Bid Teeth Stains Goodbye
The naked eye can’t see them, but many microscopic holes in the teeth make them porous. The holes trap pigments, leading to discoloration over time, even with optimal oral hygiene.
Causes of Teeth Stains
Caffeinated beverages are among the primary causes of stubborn tooth stains. They’re behind many of these cosmetic dental woes, considering 94% of surveyed American adults drink them, per SleepFoundation.org.
Using nicotine products, eating dark-colored foods, and poor oral hygiene are also leading causes of tooth discoloration.
Why Not Just Get Teeth Whitening?
In-office teeth whitening can help remove tooth stains, especially those caused by the above culprits.
However, not all tooth stains are “extrinsic” (stains that only affect the exterior of the teeth). Some are intrinsic, meaning they occur from the inside. Since they affect the interior sections of the teeth, the materials used in professional teeth whitening can’t reach and eliminate them.
How Dental Veneers Can Help With Stained Teeth
Dental veneers are among your top options for cosmetic dentistry in Rochester, NY, if you have tooth stains that even professional teeth whitening has difficulty removing. As thin, porcelain shells glued to the front surface of the teeth, they effectively camouflage both extrinsic and intrinsic stains. Their porcelain materials can also resist staining.
Say Sayonara to Your Diastema
A diastema is a gap or space between two adjacent teeth measuring at least 0.5 millimeters. It can happen anywhere in the mouth but is most common in the upper front teeth.
Minor diastemas are usually not a cause of concern because they don’t negatively impact oral health. However, they can be worrisome if they result from an infection or are wide enough to cause speech issues. For instance, prominent diastemas can cause lisping or whistling in some people.
At the very least, gaps between teeth can make people self-conscious and have low self-confidence.
If you have a diastema that restricts you from smiling or impacts your confidence, consider exploring veneers at Albee Family Dental, your local Rochester dental clinic. Our highly experienced dentist, Dr. Jennifer Albee, will help you determine if dental veneers are your best choice or if you’d benefit more from treatments like Invisalign for adults.
Correct Minor Tooth Damage
Enamel is the outermost layer of the tooth. It consists primarily of a mineral known as “hydroxyapatite.”
As BBC Science Focus explains, the apatite group of minerals has a Mohs hardness scale rating of five, making enamel the hardest biological or bodily substance, even besting steel. Despite that, it’s brittle and can be quicker and easier to chip or break.
How Can You Break or Chip a Tooth?
Many untoward incidents can result in oral trauma severe enough to break or chip a tooth, such as:
- Fall incidents
- Sports injuries
- Automobile crashes
- Biting down on something hard (e.g., ice, nuts, candies, silverware, etc.)
Sometimes, the affected tooth may only “break” by developing thin fissures or cracks. However, it can also break apart and cause a portion to chip away.
Should You Worry About Minor Tooth Cracks or Chips?
Yes.
Remember, unlike the skin, which can recover from injuries, the teeth can’t “heal” themselves. So, once damaged, your pearly whites need professional intervention or restoration. Otherwise, their incomplete, weakened state can make them more susceptible to worse, more severe issues.
Cracks and chips can also invite harmful bacteria into the teeth, raising the risk of decay. Tooth decay or cavities are a prevalent oral problem; according to the U.S. CDC, they affect over one in five American adults between 20 and 64. Untreated, they can cause pain and lead to permanent tooth loss.
Veneers vs. Crowns for Cracked or Chipped Tooth
Because dental veneers are shells that go over the front of the teeth, they can help fix minor tooth breakages. For example, if only a tiny section of a tooth chipped or the front section developed a crack.
What if your tooth sustained more severe damage, such as if a larger-sized portion chipped away? In this case, it’s even more crucial to head to your local family dentist immediately. The damage could have exposed the innermost section of your tooth (the pulp and the nerves it contains).
The nerves in dental pulp are sensitive to pain, so if exposed, they can cause terrible toothaches. More severe tooth damage can also hasten the process of dental cavities and tooth loss.
Regardless of the severity of the tooth damage, Dr. Albee can help by giving you a smile makeover in Rochester, NY.
When you visit our dental office, Dr. Albee will thoroughly and carefully assess your teeth and gums. Once she has determined the extent of the damage, she’ll develop the most suitable treatment plan to fix the problem. If the damage isn’t too bad, she may recommend dental veneers, but for more severe cases, she may advise you to get porcelain crowns instead.
Fix Minor Tooth Flaws With Veneers in Rochester, NY
Whether you have stubborn tooth stains, diastemas, or broken teeth, your highly experienced, caring dentist can fix them with high-quality veneers in Rochester, NY. What’s important is to seek help as soon as possible, especially for damaged teeth that can ultimately lead to tooth loss.
Dr. Jennifer Albee and her team at Albee Family Dental can help recover your beautiful smile with veneers and other treatments, such as professional whitening and crowns. She has used her extensive knowledge and experience to serve the community for over 20 years.
Contact our dental office in Rochester, NY, today! We’d love to hear from you and help you restore your pearly whites and achieve optimal oral health.
