The Most Common Complaints About Your Smile and How You Can Fix Them

Your smile plays a big part in your appearance. And yet, millions of Americans are unhappy with their smile, according to a survey conducted by the American Association of Orthodontists. But having attractive teeth and gums goes further than your appearance.

A beautiful smile is usually a healthy smile, but getting the smile of your dreams goes two ways. Not only do issues with your teeth and gums need to be resolved prior to receiving many cosmetic dentistry treatments, but people who have a smile they’re proud of also tend to take better care of their oral health.

The following are some of the most common complaints dentists hear from their patients and how you might be able to fix them!

Stained Teeth

Stained teeth are most often a cosmetic issue, but there are a couple of instances in which stained teeth could be more than an issue with your appearance:

• Teeth that have dead or infected tissue inside may have a darker or gray appearance. Teeth that are discolored in this way typically need root canal therapy to fully remedy the problem and restore the appearance of the tooth.
• Early cavities can also cause “stains” on the teeth which may be brown or dark-colored. These are typically early signs that something is wrong with the tooth enamel and a cavity could form there.

For those who don’t have these issues and simply have stained teeth, a professional teeth whitening with your dentist in Asheville can help. Most teeth whitening procedures are successful in brightening the teeth, although you will need maintenance to help keep your smile white over time.

Crooked Teeth

Crooked teeth don’t just impact your appearance—they can also impact your dental health. Crooked or crowded teeth tend to be more difficult to clean than straight teeth, which means more places where plaque can build up and potentially cause tooth decay or gum disease.

Whether you had your teeth straightened as a teenager and neglected to wear your retainer or are seeking treatment for crooked teeth for the first time, you have options. For those who have minor cases of misaligned teeth, dental veneers may be an option. Dental veneers are thin shells of porcelain that are placed over your natural teeth. They can not only hide the appearance of mildly crooked teeth, but they can also improve the appearance, shape, and color of your teeth.

Dental veneers are considered an irreversible procedure, so your dentist in Asheville will talk with you to discover if this is could be the right treatment for you during your appointment.

Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding, also called bruxism, is a serious condition in which unnatural pressure is placed on the teeth. This typically happens during sleep when you’re unaware of it, but it can also happen during waking hours. Grinding your teeth can wear down teeth, causing tooth enamel damage, tooth fractures, and sensitive teeth.

Getting treatment for teeth grinding is imperative to saving your smile. While many cases of teeth grinding are caused by stress, some may be influenced by a misaligned bite, a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, or other causes.

While you’re determining the cause of your bruxism and implementing proper treatment measures, investing in a custom mouthguard is important to protect your teeth from further damage.

Cracked or Chipped Teeth

Cracked or chipped teeth can impact the overall look of your smile, but they can also lead to more oral health problems than many people realize. Even a minor chip or crack can turn into a major problem. When repeatedly exposed to pressure from chewing, chips and cracks can potentially extend to fractures, which can lead to a tooth infection.

Fortunately, you have numerous options for correcting cracked or chipped teeth. Dental bonding uses the same material as tooth-colored fillings to repair minor chips in your smile. Cracked teeth may need dental crowns to restore the tooth and prevent further damage. If your teeth are extensively chipped, you may also have the option of choosing dental veneers to correct your smile.

Uneven Teeth

If your teeth are uneven, gapped, or oddly shaped, you may think that there’s nothing you can do to change the appearance of your smile. However, this isn’t true. Depending on your unique case, there may be several options available to you. Teeth that are shorter than other teeth may be candidates for dental crowns, or you may be able to use dental veneers to transform the appearance of your smile.

Dental veneers can correct numerous issues with your smile, including gapped, uneven, or discolored teeth that don’t respond to a professional teeth whitening. If you’re unhappy with the shape or alignment of your teeth, you may have cosmetic dentistry options to completely change your smile for the better!

Missing Teeth

Missing teeth should always be replaced, even if you have a missing tooth in the back of your mouth that no one else can see. But why?

Having a missing tooth not only means your body will absorb the jawbone that’s no longer needed in the tooth’s place, but that your other teeth will shift over time. Your remaining teeth will fill the gap left by the missing tooth, which can lead to crooked or gapped teeth.

Your best bet is to replace the missing tooth. Depending on your unique smile, you may have numerous options for replacing a lost tooth. While dental implants provide the most secure replacement option, you may also qualify for partial dentures or a dental bridge to fill in the space and protect your smile from any unwanted changes.

Sensitive Teeth

If you have sensitive teeth, you know the cringing that comes with eating ice cream or sometimes even eating sweet or spicy foods! Sensitive teeth are typically the result of damage to your tooth enamel, which means the protective layer of your teeth is no longer able to properly do its job of protecting the sensitive inner tissues of your teeth.

Fortunately, there is treatment for sensitive teeth. Fluoride treatments with your Asheville dentist may be able to help improve your tooth sensitivity. For others, using an American Dental Association (ADA)-approved toothpaste for sensitivity may help improve your smile.

What Issues Are You Having With Your Smile?

Our team at Saunders DDS is here to help you no matter what issues you’re having with your smile. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with us to see if we can help you fix any problems with your teeth and gums for a healthier, more attractive smile. Call us at (828) 277-6060 or fill out our contact form today to request an appointment!

If you have any problems with your teeth and gums fixing, it is best to see a dentist the right way and avoid more damage or an infection. Call us today at (828) 277-6060 and schedule an appointment.