3 Cosmetic Smile Concerns with Serious Consequences

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When you develop certain cosmetic concerns with your teeth or oral tissues, the greatest impact can seem like the one they have on your smile’s appearance. That’s why cosmetic dental treatment typically focuses mainly on improving that appearance in an effective but highly conservative manner. Keeping cosmetic dental treatment minimally invasive is a key goal in designing cosmetic smile improvement, and with in many cases, it can help ensure that the problem doesn’t have more serious consequences for the long-term state of your oral health.

1. Chipped or cracked teeth

A chipped tooth, or one that’s developed a light crack on its surface, may not seem like more than a cosmetic problem for your smile at first. The minor damage to the tooth may not cause the tooth any discomfort or place it at any significant risk of further damage or complications. Because of this, improving the appearance of a chipped or lightly cracked tooth can be a minimally invasive process involving treatment such as cosmetic tooth bonding or the placement of a porcelain veneer. By correcting the issue early, you can also prevent it from becoming worse and requiring more extensive restoration later.

2. An uneven or receding gum line

Your gum line may not seem like a significant part of your smile’s appearance unless it begins to impact it in a negative way. For example, if you have an uneven gum line (or a gummy smile), then the way some of your gum tissues cover more of your teeth in some areas than in others can create a highly noticeable impact on your smile’s overall symmetry. If it’s ignored long enough, the unevenness of your gums can also become a liability to their long-term health, increasing your risks of developing gum disease.

3. Noticeably crooked teeth

Crooked teeth, a condition known as malocclusion, can be as detrimental to your oral health and bite function as it is to your smile’s appearance, even when the condition is relatively minor. Maintaining your bite’s balance is a delicate process that involves the alignment and symmetry of your upper and lower teeth. Any discrepancy in this alignment can lead to uneven bite pressure that results in increased risks of tooth damage, excessive strain on your TMJs (jaw joints), and much more.

Correcting smile concerns with custom treatment

Cosmetic smile concerns are most noticeable for the way they impact your smile’s appearance, but correcting them can also have more serious benefits for your oral health. To learn more, call our Cleveland Family Dentistry office in Cleveland, TX, today at (281) 592-1234. We also serve the residents of Kingwood, Conroe, Livingston, and all surrounding communities.