The Scoop on Restoring Damaged Teeth

LOS ANGELES, July 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- There's nothing pretty about damaged teeth, but Los Angeles cosmetic dentist Dr. Homa Shahriari is known for her artistic, gentle approach to restoring  them. The lead dentist of Mirror Cosmetic Dentistry has been thoughtfully using such leading edge products as dental implants in Los Angeles for over 25 years. When it comes to damaged teeth, she's seen it all and has transformed countless mouths. Implants are not always the first line of defense. For a chipped or cracked tooth, for example, she may recommend covering the tooth with a crown or less intrusive treatment. The cosmetic dentist emphasizes that bad and damaged teeth can be harmful to remaining good teeth, leading to severe infection in some cases. It is always best to have them examined right away.

Dr. Shahriari categorizes the severity of damaged teeth by cavities, chipping, breaking, discoloration and the amount of pain they cause. The lightest types of damage she has seen are craze lines – vertical or horizontal cracks in the enamel. Because this can lead to larger stress fractures, the expert dentist encourages Los Angeles residents to have any type of cracked tooth looked at as soon as possible. Treatment would probably require wearing night guard veneers for an extended amount of time. For people who have small chips or an irregularly shaped tooth or teeth, the dentist suggests getting them corrected by smoothing the enamel;  for larger fractures a composite resin filling may be used.

Los Angeles residents who are experiencing enamel, dentin and pulp fractures and moderate to severe pain should visit a dentist right away. A broken tooth with light, dark or red components may lead to an infection, and could be a medical emergency. Mirror Cosmetic Dentistry notes that treatment for this may involve root canal therapy, fillings, full or partial crown and/or tooth extraction.

Of course, anyone who has had their tooth completely knocked out needs to have an examination right away as well. Not having it looked at may lead to death of the tooth nerve and possible permanent tooth loss. Treatment will most likely be performed right away. It will most likely involve replacing the tooth in the socket and possible splinting.

Fortunately, most injuries are much less severe. Broken teeth – chipped teeth, fractured teeth, cracked teeth – and loosened or knocked out teeth are classified into the following basic types listed in order of severity: crown fractures, root fractures, displaced or loosened teeth.

A damaged tooth does not always have to be saved. Even if you can save your tooth, there is no absolute answer as to whether or not you should attempt to salvage it prior to a thorough dental examination. Once Dr. Shahriari has evaluated your situation, she will be able to discuss your options so you can make an informed decision as to whether saving your tooth or teeth is worth the investment.

For further information about Mirror Cosmetic Dentistry and Dr. Shahriari, please call 818-906-3838. You also get in touch at www.mirrorcosmeticdentistry.com.

PR submitted by Cyberset.com

SOURCE Mirror Cosmetic Dentistry