There are two main problems with piercings that involve areas around the mouth. Teens often ‘play’ with their piercings – rotating, moving, or just sucking on the jewelry used. The recommendation is for surgical grade stainless steel jewelry. However, while sterile and safe to use, stainless steel is rock hard.

I mentioned two problems with piercings. The first is through contact with the jewelry and the tooth as the wearer moves that jewelry around in their mouth. The second comes from accidentally biting on the jewelry, either in an accident or while eating. Over the last ten years, the number of patients seeking treatment from a dentist due to cracked or chipped teeth has jumped dramatically, and one of the leading causes are piercings in the mouth area.

Body piercings are an individual decision and we don’t take a critical line on whether you should or shouldn’t have them done. Rather, if you do have piercings and jewelry that come into contact with your teeth, then our recommendation is to visit your dentist on a regular basis to check on the state of your teeth. If cracks or chips are appearing, your dentist can at least restore those teeth before the problems become major ones.

An inlay is a restorative treatment for cracked or broken teeth. Inlays are used for a tooth that is not too damaged to require crowns. An inlay is made of porcelain, gold, or composite resins. An inlay is typically applied to the chewing are of the tooth.

Onlays are the same as inlays except that they cover more than one tooth. Onlays are spread over the chewing surface of multiple teeth.

Inlays and onlays are avaialble in two forms: direct and indirect. The direct inlay/onlay is fixed directly in the tooth. It is then taken out and hardened and then fixed again. The indirect inlay/onlay is prepared in stages: first a mould is prepared by using a soft material on the tooth; next, the mould helps prepare the actual inlay/onlay in the laboratory. The patient is given temporary filling while the inlay/onlay is being made.

Thanks to advancements in dentistry, the restoration of your teeth can be done in only one visit to the dental clinic. Your dentist will numb the area around your tooth using anesthesia, and the treatment will be carried on.

So, don’t worry about those ugly cracks on your teeth. Just seek an appointment with the dentist.

Happy smiling!