How Cosmetic Dentistry Can Fix Crooked Lower Incisors

Dentist Blog

The lower central and lateral incisors often become crowded over time, and this is quite a common problem in adults. Crookedness of the lower incisors isn't just an aesthetic issue. Crooked lower incisors may also affect the way you speak and eat. The crookedness affects the way the upper and lower teeth come together. Cosmetic dentistry has several different approaches to correct this issue.

Composite bonding or composite veneers

Composite bonding is a material that cosmetic dentists use to fill teeth, repair chips and cracks, and hide the crookedness of teeth. Because composite starts as a resin, dentists can choose an appropriate color before they apply the resin to your teeth. And being a resin, dentists can sculpt the composite material into whatever shape best suits the situation.

In the case of lower crooked teeth, a cosmetic dentist will first remove some enamel from select areas of the teeth to be bonded. This creates a rough surface that the bonding material can cling to easily. And once applied to the teeth, the cosmetic dentist can manipulate the resin and cover the crooked teeth, so that they appear straight.

However, composite bonding isn't suitable for you if you grind your teeth at night since the massive pressure of grinding can damage the bonding.

Porcelain veneers

Porcelain veneers do the same thing as composite bonding. But porcelain is a much stronger material than composite bonding. And porcelain is very similar to enamel in appearance and strength, which makes it a longer-lasting and more attractive material.

When you smile, you generally show your upper teeth and very little of your lower teeth. This is why porcelain veneers are more common on the upper teeth. But if your lower teeth are very crooked and you tend to show your lower teeth too when you smile, porcelain veneers can help to cover up your crooked lower teeth.

Recontouring or enameloplasty

Because teeth tend to push toward the front of the mouth as you age, the bottom incisors become crowded over time. This causes them to overlap each other, with some teeth protruding forward out of the mouth and some teeth protruding backward into the mouth.

A cosmetic dentist can use enameloplasty to remove some of the enamel from the edges of your lower teeth. This is useful when teeth are beginning to overlap. Removing some enamel from the edges of the overlapping teeth can reduce the severity of the overlap. But it is usually a good idea to combine enameloplasty with bonding.

For more information about how a cosmetic dentist can fix your smile, contact a local office.

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2 March 2021

Getting Your Toddler to the Dentist Once and For All

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!