Our smiles are our “calling cards” for first impressions. When our front teeth are missing, chipped or otherwise damaged, it will certainly make an impression — and not a positive one.
The good news is many aesthetic problems with front teeth can be remedied with the use of composite resins. This cost-effective treatment choice not only minimizes a negative appearance, but can actually create a positive smile transformation.
Composite resins are tooth-colored materials made up of two or more polymer substances. We call materials like these biomimetic, meaning something non-living that’s fashioned to appear or “mimic” something living. Composite resins are made of substances that aren’t teeth, but fashioned to look and function like teeth.
Composite resin restorations are bonded to the outside of the tooth with dental adhesive, with little to no preparation of the enamel surface of the tooth. They’re best suited for teeth with minor to moderate damage from decay or trauma, but where the majority of the structure is still viable and intact.
These restorations require skill and an artistic eye to achieve the most life-like result. One of the most important considerations is tooth color. The natural color of your teeth is actually a combination of color from the inner core of the tooth, the dentin, and the outer enamel layer. Much of the color comes from the dentin as it shows through the translucence of the enamel. The intensity and hue also changes along the length of the tooth — there are subtle zones of color that run vertically along the length of the crown (the visible portion of the tooth). Our aim is to replicate this variety of color in the restoration and affix it in such a way that it blends with the natural color of surrounding teeth.
Composite resins aren’t the best option for all situations; depending on the tooth’s condition and location, a porcelain veneer may be the better choice. After a thorough dental examination, we can make the best recommendation for your situation. If conditions are right, a composite resin restoration could transform your smile and your life.
If you would like more information on front teeth repair options, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Artistic Repair of Front Teeth With Composite Resin.”
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Belton
561 North Scott Ave. Suite A
Belton, MO 64012
(816) 331-4333
fax: (816) 318-8178
Adrian
20 E. Main St.
Adrian, MO 64720
(816) 297-2297
Archive:
- 2019
- January (6)
- Stay Hydrated in Winter for Better Year-Round Oral Hygiene
- Want to Keep Enjoying Winter Sports? Wear a Mouthguard!
- Protecting Primary Teeth from Decay Helps Ensure Future Dental Health
- Implant-Supported Dentures Could Boost Your Jawbone Health
- How a New Approach to Treating Decay Could Benefit You
- Topical Fluoride is a Safe Way to Protect Your Child's Teeth from Decay
- 2018
- December (6)
- Inflammation is a Key Element in Both Oral and Systemic Diseases
- Practice Daily Oral Hygiene to Prevent Calcified Plaque Formation
- Dental Visits are Key to Detecting Early Developing Tooth Decay
- 3 Things You Might Notice with Your Child's Teeth That Need a Dentist
- Managing Diabetes and Gum Disease Together will Lessen the Effect of Both
- Support Your Child's Dental Development with Preventive Care
- November (6)
- Moderate Your Child's Juice Drinking to Lower Tooth Decay Risk
- Diabetes and Oral Health: True or False?
- TMD and Fibromyalgia Could Share Links in Chronic Pain
- The Connection Between GERD and Oral Health
- Gum Surgery Can Improve Your Smile and Save Your Teeth
- A Stainless Steel Crown Could Help a Struggling Primary Molar Last Longer
- October (6)
- Keep up Regular Dental Care While You're Pregnant
- Don't Stress Over Your Child's Teeth Grinding Habit Unless it Persists
- New Dental Advances Promise Better Outcomes for Treating Decay
- What You Should Know About a Home Teeth Whitening Kit
- Be Sure to Have a Dental Exam Before Whitening Your Teeth
- Although a Challenge, Chronically Ill Children Need Tooth Decay Prevention
- September (6)
- 4 Reasons You Should Begin Your Child's Dental Visits by Age One
- Office Fluoride Treatments Can Add Extra Protection to Your Child's Teeth
- Effective Oral Hygiene is Key to Disease Prevention While Wearing Braces
- Treating Gum Disease around Tooth Roots is Hard - but Not Impossible
- See Your Dentist if You're Having one of These 3 Dental Problems
- Seek Immediate Treatment for this Advanced Form of Gingivitis
- August (6)
- Have Your Loose Tooth Examined as Soon as Possible
- Advances in Dental Health that may be Waiting for us Just around the Corner
- Treating a Child's Tooth Injury May Require Special Consideration
- Sleep Apnea Might be Robbing you of More than a Good Night's Sleep
- Veneers may Offer a Less Invasive Way to Transform Your Smile
- 5 Causes of Bad Breath and What You Can Do About It!
- July (7)
- Some Patients Might Need Antibiotics Before Routine Dental Work
- A Second Root Canal Treatment May Help Save an Endangered Tooth
- Tooth-Colored Fillings Provide a Viable Alternative to Dental Amalgam
- What Happens in a Root Canal Treatment and How it Can Save Your Tooth
- Porcelain Veneers Could Change Your Appearance for the Better
- Need an Effective but Affordable Tooth Replacement? Look at a Flexible RPD
- Your Gum Tissue 'Biotype' Could Determine How Gum Disease Affects You
- June (6)
- Increase Bone Mass for Dental Implants through Grafting
- Saving a Diseased Primary Tooth Could Mean Better Oral Health Later in Life
- Gum Disease is Still a Threat to Your Dental Implants
- Watch What Carbs You Eat to Reduce Your Risk of Further Gum Disease
- Bone Grafting Might be Necessary Before You Obtain an Implant
- The Risk for Gum Disease Increases While Wearing Braces
- March (5)
- Periodontal Surgery may be Needed to Halt Gum Disease and Encourage Healing
- Prompt Treatment for Gum Disease Could Ultimately Save Your Teeth
- Provisional Restorations let you Try out Your New Smile First
- 3 Fluoride Sources You Should Monitor for Your Family's Dental Health
- Topical Fluoride can Enhance Your Child's Dental Care
- 2017
- December (5)
- The Perils of a Loose Permanent Tooth - and What to do About it
- Cosmetic Questions to Ask to Get You on the Right Path to a Better Smile
- Your Age Won't Necessarily Decide Against Straightening Your Smile
- Give Yourself the Gift of a New Smile
- Look at Your Options for Saving a Tooth First Before Replacing it
- September (5)
- A Teen with a Missing Tooth May Need to Wait on a Dental Implant
- Waiting to Afford Implants? Consider a Flexible RPD in the Meantime
- Risk Factors for Gum Disease
- Sedation Can Help Create a More Positive Dental Experience for a Child
- Stay Vigilant with Oral Hygiene to Avoid Another Bout of Gum Disease
- June (5)
- Loose Adult Teeth Require Immediate Attention and Treatment
- We may Need to Remove one or More Teeth Before Applying Braces
- A Smile Makeover Depends on Balancing Technique with Beauty
- Take Care of Your Dental Appliance to Extend its Longevity
- No- or Minimal-Prep Veneers Reduce Permanent Alterations to Your Teeth
- 2016
- October (5)
- Extracting Certain Teeth can Boost Orthodontic Effectiveness
- Ease Your Child's Discomfort During Teething
- Keeping up Good Hygiene Still a Necessity with Dental Implants
- An Infected or Injured Primary Tooth Can Be Saved - but it's Complicated
- Make Efforts to Protect Your Teeth from Disease While Wearing Braces
- August (5)
- Antibiotics Could Help Ensure your Implant Surgery is Successful
- Root Planing Cleans Plaque from Tooth Roots Without Surgery
- See Your new Look Before Dental Work with a 'Trial Smile'
- Proper Brushing and Flossing Removes Disease-Causing Plaque
- Local Anesthesia Eliminates Pain Completely During Dental Work
- June (5)
- Replacing a Tooth or Saving it - Which Should you do?
- Getting the Full Picture of Your Decay Risk Leads to Better Prevention Strategies
- That Small Mouth Sore is Likely Nothing - but Still Have it Checked
- Home Whitening Kits are Safe and Effective, if Used the Right Way
- 4 Things You Should be Doing to Maintain a Healthy Mouth
- March (5)
- Implant-Supported Dentures - a Better Fit with Excessive Bone Loss
- Know the Kind of Smile You Want Before Cosmetic Dental Treatment
- 3 Tips for Minimizing Enamel Erosion from Sports Drinks
- Regular Screenings Could Help With Early Oral Cancer Detection
- Though not Always Seen, it's Still Important to Replace a Missing Back Tooth
- 2015
- December (5)
- Implant-based Overdentures may be a Better Long-Term Fit Option
- Treating Dry Mouth is Important for Maintaining Good Oral Health
- Your Dentist can Help Guide you in the Best Treatment Option for Sleep Apnea
- Limit Acidic Beverages to Protect Your Child's Tooth Enamel from Erosion
- Three Considerations for Working with Your Dentist on Your Smile Makeover
- October (5)
- Your Veneers Have 'Staying Power' - if Cared for Properly
- A Root Canal Treatment may be Your Best Chance to Save a Tooth
- Keeping Fluoride to Just the Right Amount Protects Your Family's Smiles
- FAQs: Keeping Your Mouth Healthy After Gum Disease Treatment
- You May Need Surgery to Repair the Damage of Gum Recession
- 2014
- 2013
- 2012
- August (7)
- Maintenance Manual for Your Teeth and Gums
- Lasers, An Important Dental Diagnosis Tool
- A Smile Makeover Can Help Boost Self-Confidence
- “Prepless” Porcelain Veneers: Are They Right For You?
- Bleaching — An Excellent Tool For Whitening Stained Teeth
- The Elements of a Beautiful Smile
- Is It Time For A Smile Makeover?
- 2011
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