Standing the test of time is no easy task. The appearance of tooth enamel is not exempt from the difficulties associated with enduring the effects of time. Over the years, enamel can discolor, stain, or even develop tiny surface cracks known as craze lines. These lines, although typically harmless, can cause patients to feel inhibited about smiling. Failing to feel confident with your smile can result in lower self-esteem and a decreased quality of life.
Many patients with healthy teeth simply want to repair the appearance of their smile to a point when craze lines were less visible or yet to be seen. Your Lake Orion family and cosmetic dentist, Dr. Brad Greenfield, discusses the options available for people looking to treat or conceal craze lines.
Tool Teeth can lead to Craze Lines?
Most craze lines occur naturally with time. The process of chewing will naturally produce vertical lines on enamel for many patients. These lines are typically contained to the surface of teeth, and usually don’t pose any risk to dentin or other internal structures of teeth. These lines appear vertically in most cases, but can skew other directions.
Using teeth as tools is a common reason people develop craze lines earlier in life. Many people use their teeth to open soft drink cans. Although it might look impressive to crack that can with your ferocious set of teeth, the long-term results could diminish your smile’s appearance. Fingernail biting and ice-cube chewing are both known to lead to craze lines as well.
How to Conceal Craze Lines
One of the preferred cosmetic dentistry options for patients with craze lines is porcelain veneers. Craze lines can be concealed by porcelain veneers available in our 48360 cosmetic dentistry office. Veneers are fingernail thin and applied to the front of teeth to enhance appearance. Veneers can repair minor cracks like craze lines or tiny fractures. In some cases, veneers can repair the appearance of slight gaps between teeth.
Tooth whitening is another method available for treating craze lines. Although tooth whitening will not conceal craze lines with the same efficiency as veneers, it can enable lines to blend to the shade of the overall tooth. In many cases, craze lines fill with food particles over time which draws attention to their existence. A professional cleaning and whitening could stand to remove the stains from within the craze lines and brighten your smile.
Schedule a Craze Line Visit
Whether you’re considering porcelain veneers, tooth whitening, or simply due for a checkup, Dr. Greenfield can assist you. Concealing the appearance of craze lines can be an easy, simple process. At Lake Orion Family Dentistry, we provide comprehensive dental care for the whole family. Contact our Lake Orion cosmetic dental office by calling (248) 693-6213 to schedule an appointment today. We proudly serve families from Lake Orion, Clarkston, Auburn Hills, Oxford, and Rochester Hills, as well as many other areas in southeast Michigan.
