If you have developed something that looks like a crack in your front tooth, but you don't feel anything like pain, you could have a craze line. This is a tiny crack in the enamel of your tooth that doesn't penetrate all the way through to the dentin. Because a layer of enamel is still intact, a craze line is more of a cosmetic issue than anything else. However, it can still be disturbing to look at, so here are a few things you can do to make that craze line look a lot better.
Whitening
Sometimes the craze line becomes apparent because it's become stained, so you have this brownish line suddenly appearing on your tooth. Whitening may help. If the stain is deeply set, you might not be able to get rid of all of the stain, but you could get rid of enough to make the line much less visible. Of course, the line can always restain, so you'll have to be careful about eating and drinking staining substances like berries and tea. It's worth a shot, though, if the stain isn't too bad.
Veneers
Another option is to cover the surface of the tooth with a veneer. Very thin veneers bonded to the front of the tooth in question can make that line disappear, but you'd still have to look out for stain on the veneer itself over time (let's just say that stain is a constant issue that everyone has to deal with no matter what their teeth are made of, so you wouldn't be alone in this at all). The one real issue with veneers is that if you tend to clench your jaw or grind your teeth in your sleep -- a common cause of craze lines to begin with -- you can break the veneers, ruining the entire job.
Bonding
Bonding is kind of like filling a cavity, only on the flat surface of the tooth or in a missing section. So instead of drilling out a decayed section and reforming the tooth with composite material, you're just adding composite to give the tooth a more normal shape. For craze lines, that can mean covering up the crack. Because it's a cosmetic procedure, your dental insurance, if you have any, likely won't cover it. However, bonding for a craze line is not one of the more expensive procedures. It's not the cheapest, but if you talk to your dentist, you may find the price is doable.
Set up an appointment with your dentist, such as Incredible Smiles, to see what option is best for you. Small craze lines might benefit from a little whitening while larger lines may need more intensive intervention -- but in all cases, it will be cosmetic. Your dentist will be able to give you the pros and cons of each option given what your situation is like.
Share4 May 2017
Toddlers should see a dentist for the first time by the age of twelve months or by the time their first tooth comes in. But if you are a parent with toddlers anything like mine, the prospect of going to the dentist (let alone anywhere!) can be pretty intimidating. My kids were a handful growing up. They had tantrums any time we would have to sit in a waiting room, and they refused to get in the dentist's chair during their first few visits. So, I had to employ a professional to help me make the transition to finally getting them in that dental chair without all the screaming and crying. I know I'm not the only parent in this situation, so I decided to share the information I've learned with others who can use a little help. You can find all my advice right here on these pages!