Here Are Your Cosmetic Options After A Root Canal
Posted on: 28 January 2019
Many people think about getting cosmetic dentistry work done to improve the appearance of their teeth. If you're one of them but are worried that your need for a root canal could mess up your plans, rest assured that many options are still available for those who have had root canals. Here's what you can do with a root canaled tooth for cosmetic improvement purposes.
What Happens in a Root Canal
The main reason why you can't get every cosmetic procedure with a root canaled tooth is because of the root canal process. When you have a root canal, your tooth is removed and essentially hollowed out. Its pulp and root are removed, allowing you to keep the tooth. However, in reality, it's a shell of its former self.
Certain types of procedures aren't possible with root canaled teeth for this reason. For example, drilling into a tooth like this could damage the entire tooth, so any procedures requiring drilling are out of the question.
What Can Be Done
The good news is that if the shape, color, or size of your tooth bothers you, you can still get work done on it. Tooth whitening is perfectly safe for root canaled teeth. Since it's only removing stains and cleaning the exterior of the tooth, there's no danger there, especially if you visit a cosmetic dentist to have it done professionally.
Another cosmetic option that covers almost everything you could ever hope to improve is veneers. Dental veneers are a thin layer of porcelain that's affixed to the front of your tooth. Since no drilling is required, it's completely possible to get veneers and improve the look of your smile without damage.
What to Expect
Dental veneers are easily applied without drilling your teeth. Rather than using hardware to stay attached, dental veneers are simply applied with heavy-duty dental adhesive. This is the same kind of adhesive that's used to attach things like brace brackets, which can handle the high amount of strain as the braces pull on them.
Dental veneers can make your teeth look straighter, better aligned, nicely sized, or simply whiter. Your cosmetic dentist will show you exactly what's possible with them and will likely provide some before and after photos of people with cases similar to yours. Once you've decided what you want veneers for, your dentist will take the necessary measurements and order your custom-made veneers.
Once your veneers have arrived, all your dentist needs to do is apply them. This can usually be accomplished in a single visit to the dentist's office. You'll be able to go back to eating and brushing your teeth normally as soon as the procedure's done.
Dental veneers are a great way of boosting your confidence and appearance quickly and easily. Don't let a past dental procedure hold you back from getting the look you want now.
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