Minor changes in the alignment and position of your teeth can happen as you age. This is even more likely to occur if you lost a tooth or suffered a significant oral trauma that affected the structure of your mouth.
If these deviations in your dentition are not addressed in a reasonable amount of time it can cause the biting surface of one tooth to rub excessively on the lingual surface of another tooth. As time goes on this can grind away at the tooth enamel causing an area of dental attrition.
If it is caught early enough Dr. Frank Russomanno, Jr. might be able to repair a small area of compromised tooth enamel by applying a simple dental filling. This may be able to prevent bacteria from infiltrating the compromised tooth enamel and restoring the strength of the tooth.
To do this your dentist will use a special dental drill to remove a small amount of the surrounding tooth enamel. This will prepare a clean tactile surface to adhere the eventual dental filling.
The specific material that he uses for the dental filling will be based on the tooth’s primary function and prevalence in your smile.
A composite dental filling is made from a special type of dental plastic that can be perfectly shaded to match the remaining tooth enamel. This makes them a good choice for repairing an area of enamel attrition that appears in your smile. An amalgam dental filling is made from a blend of special dental metals. They are dark in color, making them better for repairing a compromised back tooth.
Once the dental filling material has been applied and shaped, Dr. Frank Russomanno, Jr. will use a special ultraviolet light to harden it and secure the bond with the surrounding tooth enamel.
Going forward you might want to consider having the alignment of your teeth corrected by some form of braces to reduce your chances of suffering another case of dental attrition on a different tooth.
If you live in Bloomington, Minnesota, area and you have a tooth suffering from dental attrition you should call 952.881.0504 to seek treatment at Amber Leaf Family Dental.