Worn Teeth Treatment in Austin, TX
Rebuild short, worn, or chipped teeth with less drilling
Dr. Ben Corpron offers worn teeth treatment using an approach called additive rehabilitation, or additive rehab. We rebuild lost tooth structure by bonding new material onto the teeth whenever appropriate.
Signs your teeth may be wearing down
Common signs include:
- NTeeth that look shorter or flatter
- NDips or worn areas on your back teeth
- NChipped or uneven front teeth
- NOld fillings that seem to sit higher than the tooth around them
- NChanges in the way your teeth come together
- NChewing that feels harder than it used to
- NA smile that looks increasingly uneven
What causes worn-down teeth?
Possible contributors include:
Acid reflux or heartburn
Stomach acid can reach the mouth and gradually erode enamel. If we see signs that reflux may be contributing to your tooth wear, we may recommend talking with your primary care doctor or a gastroenterologist.
Acidic foods and drinks
Sodas, sports drinks, carbonated beverages, citrus drinks, and other acidic foods can contribute to erosion. How often and how you consume them can matter too.
Grinding and clenching
Grinding puts additional force on already weakened teeth and can accelerate wear. Before rebuilding worn teeth, we first try to understand what caused the damage. Managing the cause can help protect the new restorations over time.
Can worn-down teeth be rebuilt?
Yes, many worn teeth can be rebuilt. Traditional treatment for severe tooth wear has sometimes involved preparing already-short teeth for crowns. That requires removing additional tooth structure to create room for the restoration.
Additive rehab takes a different approach. Whenever your teeth and bite make it appropriate, Dr. Corpron adds restorative material to replace what has been lost while preserving as much natural tooth structure as possible.
Add instead of automatically drilling
New restorative material is bonded onto your teeth. This can reduce the amount of healthy tooth structure that needs to be removed.
Rebuild the bite
If tooth wear has caused your bite to collapse or become uneven, treatment can restore some of the lost height and help your teeth meet more evenly.
Keep repairs manageable
Resin-based restorations can often be repaired if a small area chips instead of requiring the entire restoration to be replaced.
Research on additive approaches to severe tooth wear has shown promising medium-term outcomes, including studies following patients for more than five years.
What is additive rehab?
Additive rehabilitation is a method of restoring worn teeth by adding bonded material rather than routinely cutting teeth down for full-coverage restorations.
The treatment may involve rebuilding multiple teeth because severe tooth wear often affects the entire bite, not just one tooth.
At Blue Sky Family Dentistry, the process is digitally planned so Dr. Corpron can evaluate:
- NWhich teeth have worn down
- NHow much structure has been lost
- NHow your upper and lower teeth meet
- NWhether the bite needs to be raised
- NWhich teeth actually need treatment
- NWhich teeth can be left alone
Our 5-step approach to worn teeth treatment
Examine and scan your teeth
We start with photos, x-rays, and a 3D scan. These records help Dr. Corpron see where the wear is happening and establish a baseline for future comparison. The shape of the worn areas can also provide clues about what’s causing the damage.
1
Identify what's causing the wear
Before rebuilding your teeth, we look for the reason they wore down.That may include:
- Acid reflux
- Diet and acidic drinks
- Grinding or clenching
- More than one factor at the same time
If a medical issue may be contributing to the erosion, we may recommend coordinating care with your physician.
2
Plan your new bite
Digital records help us determine how much material each tooth may need and how your bite should come together. Research has found that carefully increasing the vertical dimension of the bite can be well tolerated when appropriately planned.
Some patients may also benefit from temporarily trying the proposed smile or bite before everything is finalized.
During this stage, we can evaluate:
- How the teeth look
- How you chew
- How the bite feels
- Whether your speech changes
- Whether adjustments are needed
3
Rebuild your teeth
Once the plan is established, we restore the teeth in carefully planned sections. The restorations are adjusted so your teeth meet evenly and your front and back teeth work together appropriately.
Because this is an additive approach, healthy teeth that don’t need treatment can be left alone.
4
Protect your rebuilt smile
Once treatment is complete, we’ll create a maintenance plan based on your risk factors.
That may include:
- A custom nightguard
- Regular exams and cleanings
- Monitoring for new wear
- Management of grinding or clenching
- Coordination with your physician when medical conditions contribute to erosion
5
What are the restorations made from?
Every restoration is digitally planned. Depending on the tooth and your treatment plan, Dr. Corpron may use resin-based or ceramic-filled restorative materials that can be bonded to your natural tooth structure.
Bonding allows us to limit tooth preparation whenever clinically appropriate. Healthy teeth don’t need to be restored simply because other teeth are being rebuilt.
Will raising my bite feel strange?
It may feel different at first because your teeth are meeting at a new height. Research evaluating increases in vertical dimension has generally found that appropriately planned changes are well tolerated and aren’t associated with lasting jaw-joint problems in most patients.
Your bite is also checked and adjusted throughout the process. If something feels uneven, we want to know.
How do you protect rebuilt teeth?
Wear your nightguard
If you grind or clench, a custom nightguard can help protect your restorations from excessive nighttime forces.
Keep up with exams and cleanings
Regular visits let us compare your teeth with the records we took before treatment and watch for changes over time.
Manage heavy grinding when appropriate
For some patients with significant clenching or grinding, Dr. Corpron may discuss additional ways to reduce stress on the teeth and restorations.
Repair small problems early
Why Austin patients choose additive rehab
It preserves more natural tooth structure
Whenever appropriate, we add material to the teeth rather than removing additional healthy structure simply to create space for a restoration.
The treatment is planned before it’s finalized
Digital records allow us to plan your bite and the shape of your restorations before completing treatment. When a trial phase is useful, adjustments can be made before the final result is completed.
It’s repairable
If a resin-based restoration chips, it may be possible to repair the affected area instead of replacing the entire restoration.
Your results are monitored over time
Regular exams allow us to watch your bite, restorations, natural teeth, and risk factors over time.
Who may be a candidate for worn teeth treatment?
- NYour teeth look noticeably shorter than they used to
- NSeveral teeth are worn or chipped
- NYour bite feels different
- NYour back teeth look flat
- NOld fillings appear higher than the surrounding tooth
- NYou have significant erosion from reflux or acidic foods and drinks
- NGrinding has caused widespread wear
- NYou've been told you need extensive restorative treatment and want to understand your options
An exam doesn’t automatically mean you need treatment.
Photos, X-rays, a 3D scan, and an evaluation of your bite help Dr. Corpron determine whether additive rehab is appropriate and which teeth actually need to be restored.
Frequently asked questions about worn teeth treatment in Austin
Can worn-down teeth be fixed?
Yes. Depending on how much tooth structure remains and what’s causing the wear, worn teeth can often be rebuilt with bonded restorative material. At Blue Sky Family Dentistry, Dr. Corpron first evaluates the cause and severity of the wear before recommending treatment.
What is additive rehab?
Additive rehab is a way to restore worn teeth by adding bonded restorative material while preserving as much natural tooth structure as possible. It can be used to rebuild individual worn areas or multiple teeth as part of a larger bite rehabilitation.
What causes teeth to wear down?
Common causes include acid erosion, grinding, clenching, and combinations of these factors. Acid from reflux or acidic foods and drinks can soften enamel, while chewing and grinding can accelerate the physical wear.
Do you have to drill my teeth?
Some preparation may be necessary, but additive treatment is designed to limit drilling whenever clinically appropriate. The amount depends on your teeth, existing dental work, bite, and the material being used.
Is it safe to raise my bite?
Research has found that appropriately planned increases in bite height can be well tolerated. Your bite is evaluated carefully before treatment and adjusted as needed during the process.
How long does additive rehab last?
There’s no single lifespan that applies to every patient or material. Published research on additive rehabilitation for severe tooth wear includes studies showing favorable outcomes beyond five years. Longevity depends on factors such as the material used, the extent of treatment, grinding, acid exposure, home care, and maintenance.
Because some 3D-printed restorative materials are newer, Blue Sky Family Dentistry continues to monitor these restorations at follow-up visits.
What happens if a restoration chips?
Small chips in resin-based restorations can often be polished or repaired. Whether a restoration can be repaired depends on the size and location of the damage.
Can I see my smile before treatment is final?
In some cases, yes. If Dr. Corpron believes a trial stage would be useful, you may be able to test the planned bite or smile before finalizing treatment. This gives us a chance to make adjustments to appearance, chewing, comfort, and speech.
How much does worn teeth treatment cost in Austin?
Cost depends on how many teeth need treatment, the materials used, and the complexity of your bite. Blue Sky Family Dentistry doesn’t advertise a single set price for additive rehab.
After your evaluation and records are completed, we’ll explain the recommended treatment and provide an estimate before you move forward.
How do I know if I'm a candidate?
The first step is an exam. If your teeth are becoming shorter, flatter, more chipped, or more difficult to chew with, we can evaluate the amount of wear, investigate possible causes, and explain your treatment options.
Highly recommend Dr. Corpron at Blue Sky Family Dentistry. Friendly staff, clear treatment options, and advanced 3-D imaging technology.
— Kate M.
Dr. Corpron offers the best dental experience, from routine to emergency care. His top-notch staff and the personal, community feel make it the perfect family dental choice!
— Jerry W.
The staff at this office is amazing. They are very friendly and go above and beyond to make sure you as a patient are taken care of. Dr. Corpron did a fantastic job. Highly recommend their dental services!
— Amanda J.
Think your teeth are getting shorter?
Dr. Ben Corpron can evaluate the wear, help identify what’s causing it, and explain whether rebuilding the teeth is appropriate.
Visit Blue Sky Family Dentistry
Blue Sky Family Dentistry is located at 5915 La Crosse Ave, Ste 105, Austin, TX 78739, in the heart of South Austin’s Circle C Ranch community. We’re open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Call (512) 717-4786 or visit our contact page for directions.
Austin TX, 78739
Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM