Tony Kim, DDS

If you've lost teeth due to the gumline discoloration (looks like decay or severe decalcification) then it's definitely a severe problem.  The decalcification right at the gumline usually comes from plaque staying at the gumline for long periods of time which allows the bacteria in the plaque to create acidity in the area which weakens the enamel and changes the color.  This weakened area can then be an area where decay can burrow in deeply and weaken the tooth enough to crack off.  For this to happen, this means the decay has been very severe.  You'll need to visit a dentist quickly and probably need quite a bit of dental work to repair the damage that you've already been experiencing.  Please hurry because from what you've described, you will experience a lot more damage in the near future.

You may already be doing these things but if not, these will help: 1) brush and floss after every meal - you need to due to the environment in your mouth which is making it easier for you to get cavities, 2) stay away from sugary foods and drinks, especially soft drinks, 3) see your dentist for regular maintenance, 4) make sure you aren't having lots of dry mouth from mouth breathing, medications, etc., 5) snack on sugar free (I recommend xylitol) mints or candies in between meals.  These suggestions won't eliminate the problems you're facing but help minimize the chance of future ones.

Hello, it's unfortunate that the crown is not comfortable in your mouth.  My guess would be that the contours of the crown are not matching that of your surrounding teeth which definitely would make it feel out of place.  The best thing would be go back to your dentist and see if they can adjust it until it feels better.  A worst case scenario would be to remove it and remake another one that feels more comfortable.  Good luck!

Hello, it's a tough situation that you're in.  Your teeth look to be in great shape from your photo and it's clear that you don't have much space to work with.  Braces are the ideal option for most minimally invasive technique to give you an evenly spaced smile.  I'd strongly recommend you pick that option because it will keep your teeth the strongest over a long period of time, especially if you an orthodontist who will try to give you a properly functioning bite along with a perfect smile.  However, if braces are just not an option for you then you'd have to consider reconstruction of several teeth and possibly an extraction of a tooth.  It would be a lot of irreversible work done to correct the spacing issue which will probably need replacements several times over your lifespan versus braces which if you maintain your oral health may possibly be forever.  If you're worried about the appearance of braces, consider Invisalign by a very experienced orthodontist who specializes in proper bites.  Roth Williams trained dentists are one example of advanced bite training beyond regular orthodontic school.

Hello, there are many ways to tackle your situation.  These are just a few suggestions from the picture you posted.  For any dentist to really go into what's possible or not, they'd have to do a full evaluation of your bite and function.  But, you could have a dentist bond the bottom corner of the tooth to fill in the gap.  Just be aware that the same tooth on the other size also is a little more pointed than usual.  So if the lower teeth don't slide into that gap area when chewing, then making the smaller tooth look like the other one should be possible.  Just know that the tooth will be behind the others and that as your teeth continue to shift in the future that the appearance of your smile will continue to shift.

If you don't want your smile to change as time passes, seriously consider orthodontics.  I know you mentioned that you're not interested in that now but a straight smile that functions properly has many benefits beyond just cosmetic.  It can actually help reduce the chances of gum disease due to easier cleaning, less tooth wear because teeth are rubbing against each other in the proper way, and even distribution of stress when chewing.  Plus, with retainers after braces, you can keep your teeth in the ideal position.  Good luck!

Hi Maya, from my perspective I don't think it would be terribly complicated to restore you to your original tooth size.  Although I don't have xrays or pictures to see how much tooth structure you've lost, I can't imagine you've lost a significant amount of tooth by age 17 unless there were some extreme circumstances.  If you're teeth have moderate or severe erosion, then veneers or crowns may be a good option because it's a way to fix the problem with the tooth and also restore original tooth size and function.  However, I can understand why your dentist may be hesitant to do a serious reconstruction at your age because remember, almost all dentistry done has a certain lifespan and if you have serious work done now, you can be sure that there will be several replacements throughout your lifetime.  If the damage is limited, then cosmetic bonding may be your best choice for now because it's less costly and there is minimal removal of tooth necessary.  However, your dentist has to be confident in their cosmetic bonding abilities because this can be a very difficult procedure, especially if there are many teeth to be worked on.  If you feel that your current dentist is reluctant, then find a dentist who focuses on cosmetic dentistry.  One site where you can find such dentists is the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentists.  Hope this helps!