Using Dentures to Replace Missing Teeth Is Cost-Effective and Easy

Dentures are a very easy and cost-effective way to replace missing teeth. They can help to restore a person’s ability to eat food, and can restore facial appearance. Today’s modern dentures are nothing like your granny used to wear as they use teeth that are designed to look very natural, and the denture can be constructed so it doesn’t look too perfect and artificial. Dentures consist of an acrylic base that is gum coloured, and the acrylic comes in several different shades so it can be closely matched to your existing gum tissue.

The artificial teeth also come in lots of different designs and shapes and colours, and there are varying degrees of quality. Get cosmetic dentistry in Leeds City Dentalcare where dentures are use the very best quality teeth that are constructed in Liechtenstein. Some dentures will include a cobalt chrome framework that is designed to strengthen the denture without adding extra bulk.

Dentures can be made to replace a single tooth, or to replace every tooth in your mouth. Dentures that only replace a few teeth are called partial dentures, while those made to replace complete arches of teeth are called full dentures.

Attention to Detail Ensures Your Finished Denture Will Look and Feel Natural

The process for having a denture made and fitted is very straightforward but you will need to arrange quite a few appointments with Dr David Brown or another of our dentist at Leeds surgery. This is because it’s necessary to take precise impressions and measurements of your mouth before your denture can even be constructed. Initially your denture will be made using pink coloured wax to represent the acrylic base and this is used to support the denture teeth that will be used in the finished denture.

One of our dentists in Leeds will need to try in this wax denture to make sure it fits properly and that the teeth are in the correct position. They will also check that it restores your facial features to the correct dimensions and height. It’s really important to get this stage right, as the next step is to replace the wax with acrylic which cannot be so easily altered. Sometimes it might be necessary to send the wax denture back to our laboratory for alterations, and although this might seem laborious it really does pay dividends in the end.

The next step will be to have your denture fitted, and we may need to make some small adjustments to ensure it fits comfortably. It’s not unusual for it to require adjustments some days or even a week or two after the initial fitting, but these additional appointments are included in the cost of your denture.

We Can’t Make You Faberge Dentures but We Do Our Best to Ensure You’re Happy with Your New Teeth

It was recently reported that an aristocrat’s remains were discovered in a church near St. Petersburg in Russia. What’s interesting about this particular discovery is that the aristocrat had dentures made by Faberge and which were constructed out of platinum and gold. Leeds City Dentalcare can’t provide you with such extravagantly fabulous dentures, but we can make dentures that will look very natural and which won’t cost a king’s ransom.

A recent study carried out by Oral-B showed participants thought people with a healthy and attractive smile were more likely to be successful in life compared to those with less appealing teeth. The survey showed that these participants thought people with an attractive smile were more likely to be higher earners compared to those with unhealthy looking teeth. The results of this survey are hardly a surprise as numerous studies have shown the increasing value placed on having a healthy, white and attractive smile. It’s been shown that people think this can improve career prospects, and can even increase the chances of finding the love of your life.

It’s tempting to disregard such studies as it can be uncomfortable to think that someone’s chances of happiness and career success are linked to the way they look. However most of us make up our minds about another person within just a few minutes of meeting them, so first impressions do matter. In addition most people feel more confident and more able to express themselves, and to smile and talk with others when they know their teeth look good. Luckily there are lots of things you can do to help improve the look of your teeth if you’re not particularly happy with their appearance, and many of these treatments are really quite affordable.

Even Minor Alterations to Your Teeth Can Make a Huge Difference

For instance teeth whitening is something that is within the reach of just about everyone and choosing to whiten your teeth professionally by dentist in Leeds City Dentalcare will give you the best and safest results. Nowadays more and more people are opting for a natural looking smile, and you should really be aiming for a colour that isn’t any whiter than the whites of your eyes. This is quite different even compared to just a few years ago when many were looking for the brightest and whitest Hollywood style smile regardless of whether or not it suited their looks and skin tone.

If some of your teeth are crooked then you may want to think about having orthodontic treatment which can not only help to straighten your teeth, but also improve oral health. This is well worth considering if you find you struggle to clean all of your teeth due to them being too crooked or overcrowded. If you’re generally happy with the appearance of your teeth, then you could use dental veneers to straighten them, and it’s a great treatment to use in combination with teeth whitening. Dental veneers are relatively conservative as only a tiny amount of the front surface of the tooth needs to be removed in order to make room for the dental veneer. It’s best to use our home teeth whitening prior to having your dental veneers as this will ensure they can be accurately matched to your newly bleached teeth.

Not everyone wants to have dental veneers, and another option is to simply have some of your teeth bonded. This is a very quick and effective treatment that uses composite resin material to reshape teeth that may be slightly out of alignment, or which may have small defects.

None of these options will break the bank but could make a huge difference to your smile. If you are interested, it’s best to make an appointment to see Dr David Brown or another of our dentists to discuss the different options for cosmetic dentistry in Leeds.

Many of our patients here at Leeds City Dentalcare still have older style amalgam fillings, and while there’s nothing wrong with this material as it is perfectly functional and very cost effective, it doesn’t always look so good. One of the problems with amalgam is that it is quite a dark silver colour and it can create darker areas in the mouth making it obvious that you have had some teeth filled. We certainly don’t suggest that patients have fillings replaced purely for the sake of it, but fillings don’t last forever and amalgam is no exception. Eventually the edges of your amalgam fillings will begin to crumble and leak, and this is your cue to get them replaced before they allow bacteria to enter the tooth, increasing the risk of decay. At this stage it could well be worth your while considering more modern and cosmetically pleasing composite resin white fillings in Leeds.

Advantages of Choosing White Fillings

In the past you would probably have been recommended to have amalgam fillings to replace larger areas of decay in your back teeth. This was entirely the right decision as composite used to be quite a fragile material that would’ve been unable to withstand the pressure of chewing and biting on foods and was only really suitable for using in the front of the mouth or in other areas that were highly visible. However modern materials are designed to be much stronger, and can be extremely good for the health of your teeth. Composite fillings only require the minimum amount of tooth material to be removed, and unlike amalgam will not expand and contract when exposed to hot or cold foods. This is a huge advantage as this expansion and contraction has the potential to eventually cause small fractures in your teeth.

In addition composite fillings can be closely matched to your natural tooth colour, and can look incredibly natural as the dentist at Leeds City Dentalcare can construct your filling using several different colours to get the exact shade. When the time comes, it’s surprising what a difference it can make to have older style amalgam fillings replaced as it’s a great way to brighten up your smile.

Mini Makeovers Using Teeth Whitening with White Fillings

If you’re generally happy with the appearance of your teeth but simply want to refresh your looks then a cost-effective way of doing so is to combine white fillings with teeth whitening. This is a quick and easy way to really lift your smile. Leeds City Dentalcare can supply you with custom-made whitening trays so you can safely whiten your teeth in the comfort of your own home over the course of a couple of weeks or so. Once you’re happy with your tooth shade then you can return to our Leeds surgery for your white fillings. It is best to do it this way around as Dr David Brown or whoever is replacing your fillings will be able to closely match the composite to the shade of your newly whitened teeth.

Most fillings need replacing every few years or so, and the state of your fillings is something that will check every time you visit our cosmetic dentistry in Leeds for a check-up and professional cleaning. It is essential to make sure they are kept in good condition and that they don’t leak or haven’t cracked or crumbled. One of the first signs that this might have happened is noticing your teeth feel more sensitive than normal to hot and cold foods.

Apparently a new survey has revealed that an incredible 20 million people in the UK could be at risk of having a potentially harmful teeth whitening treatment. According to the survey more than a quarter of people considering having this treatment would not go to the dentist, but would  choose to purchase home whitening kits over the Internet instead, or would even take the risk of visiting a beautician or whitening kiosk in pursuit of a beautiful smile.

Rather worryingly approximately a quarter of the people questioned by the survey believed that beauticians and kiosk staff are qualified to carry out whitening treatments when in fact this was made illegal towards the end of last year. A recent European Council directive ordered that the sale of teeth whitening products containing between0.1% and 6% of hydrogen peroxide can only be sold by registered dental professionals who offer whitening treatments in their practice. Dental organisations recognise that it is becoming far more popular to have this treatment carried out, especially as it’s possible to have teeth whitening treatments in a number of different places, but there’s also little doubt that many of these are operating illegally, and visiting them could pose a significant risk to oral health.

The concern is that many beauticians and people working out of kiosks are carrying out teeth whitening procedures without having sufficient training and expertise. It is not uncommon to find out that the strength of the hydrogen peroxide used to whiten the teeth exceeds the legal limits. If carried out incorrectly then teeth whitening can damage the gums, and may lead to increased tooth sensitivity, and this damage may even be permanent.

It simply is not worth taking the risk of damaging your teeth and gums permanently, especially as professional tooth whitening at Leeds City Dentalcare may be far more affordable than you realise. In addition you will have the security of having a full dental check-up before you receive your custom made whitening trays. This is very important as having unhealthy teeth whitened will almost certainly cause increased sensitivity, and is something that will not be picked up on by someone without the correct dental training who may be offering this service.  In addition a lot of people don’t realise that teeth whitening will not change the colour of any existing crowns, bridges or veneers. These are all things that Dr David Brown can advise you on prior to whitening, but which you are extremely unlikely to be informed about by an untrained person.

By visiting our Leeds surgery you are assured of receiving expert advice on whitening safely. Our dentist in Leeds will be able to tell you the kind of colour you can safely achieve, and we can provide you with the correct bleaching gels to ensure you whiten comfortably, and without any unnecessary sensitivity. We will also give you a lot of information on how to keep you smile whiter for longer, and can provide you with additional whitening gel when you need to top up the results. Your custom made whitening trays should last for a long time, and will ensure the bleaching gel stays in the trays and doesn’t leak out onto your gums, something that is always a concern with the one-size-fits-all trays supplied with over the counter kits.

Leeds City Dentalcare often get asked this question as teeth whitening is one of our most popular cosmetic dentistry in Leeds. The quick answer is that teeth whitening is generally suitable for anyone who has a healthy mouth, but it’s not always right for everybody. People who may not be suitable for teeth whitening include:

• Anyone under the age of 16 as their teeth are still likely to be developing. Children have much larger pulp chambers than adults. The pulp chamber is a central part of the tooth that contains all the nerves and blood vessels that are necessary for the teeth to develop normally. Using whitening products too soon could irritate the pulp chamber and may cause tooth sensitivity. Most children tend to have beautifully white teeth anyway, and shouldn’t need to use bleaching products.
• People with particularly sensitive teeth may find it quite uncomfortable to use bleaching products. This doesn’t necessarily mean they can’t, but they may need to take a few extra precautions.
• Women who are pregnant or who are breast-feeding are better off avoiding teeth whitening. There hasn’t been very much research into whether or not teeth whitening is safe while pregnant so it’s best to avoid it just be completely safe.
• Anyone with existing oral health conditions should not whiten their teeth. Having untreated gum disease or decay is likely to mean the bleach will penetrate the teeth which is something that could prove to be quite uncomfortable or even painful. People who grind their teeth need to get this problem sorted out prior to whitening as this condition can cause a lot of damage to teeth as the bleach could penetrate through cracks and chips in the teeth unless they are repaired beforehand.
• Some people may have teeth stains that don’t respond particularly well to bleach. For instance tetracycline staining and dental fluorosis doesn’t always respond particularly well to bleach. However there are always alternative methods of whitening teeth, and this is something that Dr David Brown can advise you about.
• Any existing dental restorations will not be affected by bleaching so this is something you need to take into consideration if you have a lot of veneers or crowns. It may be that your need to budget to have these restorations replaced in order to get an evenly white smile.
• If you have any existing health conditions then it’s well worth mentioning this to your dentist when you visit our Leeds surgery just in case this has any effect on your teeth whitening.

We always recommend that you have a complete check-up and professional cleaning before using our custom made whitening trays. Using the bleach on a beautifully clean mouth will enable it to penetrate the teeth more easily, and in any case having your teeth scaled and polished usually leaves them looking a little whiter.

It’s essential that you follow our instructions on whitening your teeth as this will help ensure the process is completely safe. Don’t be tempted to overuse the bleaching gels or to leave them in longer than recommended as you could damage your teeth. As a rule of thumb the colour you are looking to achieve should be no whiter than the whites of your eyes. This will give you a smile that looks beautifully natural and healthy.

Inlays and onlays are a conservative way of restoring teeth to full function. Dentist in Leeds City Dentalcare always do their very best to maintain as much healthy tooth structure as possible, and inlays and onlays can be a great way of achieving this aim. The alternative would be to use a crown that covers the entire tooth, and this would require much more tooth structure to be removed in order to create sufficient room for the crown.

Inlays are made to replace the central part of the chewing surface of a back tooth, either a molar or a pre-molar. They are excellent for larger areas of decay that would be unsuitable for normal composite resin fillings.

Onlays can replace the central part of the chewing surfaces a back tooth, as well as one or more of the cusps. In fact onlays can be used to replace the whole chewing surface of a back tooth. The cusps are raised points that you find on the outer edges of back teeth.

Advantages of Having Inlays and Onlays

Inlays and onlays are precision made to fit tightly into the area of tooth that needs replacing. Once they are bonded into position they help to improve the strength of the tooth and offer a relatively long-lasting solution to repairing areas of tooth structure that have been lost to decay or disease. Their precision fit ensures that bacteria are sealed out of the tooth, and that the restoration is easy to clean.

You can choose to have inlays and onlays made out of tooth coloured materials that blend in extremely well with the remaining tooth structure, although some can be made from gold alloy. Most inlays and onlays are made out of some type of porcelain, as this material is durable and long-lasting, and will not stain. These types of restorations are called indirect restorations as they are made in a dental laboratory, and this does mean you will need to return to our Leeds surgery at a later date for fitting.

You may also be able to have a CEREC inlay or onlay. CEREC is a milled porcelain that is constructed right here at Leeds City Dentalcare. The huge advantage of this system is that you will be able to have your tooth prepared for the inlay or onlay, and can have it fitted during the same visit. CEREC restorations look very natural and are hardwearing, making them a good choice for repairing back teeth.

Procedure for Having an Inlay or Onlay

The procedure for having an inlay or onlay is very straightforward. You’ll need to have the tooth prepared, something that will be done by Dr David Brown or another of our dentists at Leeds City Dentalcare. Once the tooth is prepared then the next step will depend on the type of restoration chosen to repair your tooth. If you are having an indirect inlay or onlay then an impression will be taken of your tooth, and sent to our dental laboratory for fabrication. It will be fitted and cemented into place at your next visit.

If you have chosen a CEREC inlay or onlay then a special digital camera will be used to take pictures of your tooth. These images are used by our dentists to design your restoration. Once they are happy with the design then this is sent directly to the milling machine. The machine is able to mill your restoration from a single solid block of porcelain. The next step is for your dentist to stain and polish the inlay or onlay, before cementing it into place. You’ll leave our Leeds surgery with your tooth fully restored.

Perhaps you’re unhappy with the way your smile looks and would like to improve it but aren’t quite sure what all the different cosmetic dental treatments do, let alone how they might help improve your teeth. It’s true that there are a lot of different treatments than fall into the category of cosmetic dentistry, and you can invest a considerable sum of money in having a complete smile makeover, or you can choose to be a little more conservative in how much you spend. Even a few minor cosmetic dental enhancements can make all the difference to how your teeth look.

The word cosmetic is derived from the ancient Greek word kosmetike, which means the art of ornament, something that may seem appropriate for dental treatments which are supposed to just change the appearance of teeth rather than actually improve oral health. However this isn’t always true, as some cosmetic dental treatments, for example orthodontic treatment, can actually help to improve oral health through making it easier to brush and floss your teeth.

Book a Cosmetic Dental Consultation at Leeds City Dentalcare

The first thing to do is to book a consultation with Dr David Brown or another of the dentists here in our Leeds surgery. You’ll get an honest assessment as to what can be done for your smile whilst staying within your budget. It is important to find a dentist in Leeds you can trust, and who will listen to your concerns about your smile and that’s something you’ll definitely find at Leeds City Dentalcare.

Choosing the Right Cosmetic Dentist Does Make a Difference

It is important to choose a dentist who has an artistic eye, especially if you are planning to have an extensive smile makeover. This is because they are able to design your smile to suit your face and your personality, and will take into account your age, your hair colour, and your skin tone. They’ll also be able to advise you on the kind of look that will suit you best. For example teeth should generally be no whiter than the whites of your eyes if you hope to achieve a beautifully natural looking smile.Our surgery in Leeds has a Smile Gallery which is a collection of before and after photos of actual patients as we’re proud of our work! You can rest assured we’ll work with you to design the smile you really want.

Cosmetic Dental Treatments

The most popular cosmetic dentistry is teeth whitening, and this is also a truly cosmetic dental treatment as it has no other purpose other than to enhance the look of your teeth. Most of the other dental treatments will have some additional effect on your teeth.

For example dental veneers can be used to change the colour of your teeth and to mask any discolourations, but they can also restore the length of teeth that have become worn or which have become chipped and are a relatively conservative method of restoring and repairing teeth.

Dental bonding is another good example, as it can be used to hide minor imperfections in teeth, and to replace small fillings in front teeth. When used in combination with dental contouring, this straightforward treatment can have a considerable effect on a smile without costing a fortune.

Dental crowns are an excellent way of restoring teeth that have been damaged or which have suffered decay. While dental crowns are functional, their effect can also be cosmetically pleasing. Dental bridges replace missing teeth, and help to support the lips and cheeks. While dental bridges are functional, they can also have quite the cosmetic effect.

Dental implants are an increasingly popular way of replacing missing teeth, and while they do have a remarkable cosmetic effect, providing excellent aesthetic results, they’re also extremely good at maintaining a healthy jawbone.

Dental bonding is where Dr David Brown, or another of our dentists at our Leeds surgery, will apply composite resin to an existing tooth. It can be a very conservative and cost-effective way of masking stains, or it can be used to help makeover your smile. It is an alternative, and less expensive option than porcelain veneers. Dental bonding can be used to:

• Mask teeth that have become discoloured
• Create a more aesthetically pleasing contour to teeth
• Repair teeth that have become worn, cracked or chipped
• Replace stained fillings
• Mask stains caused by antibiotics such as tetracycline
• Straighten up teeth that are slightly crooked

This versatile treatment is ideal for anyone who wants to rejuvenate their smile within a short space of time, without having to spend a fortune. It is best for someone who isn’t a heavy smoker, or who likes to drink a lot of coffee, tea or red wine as composite resin does stain after a few years. The advantage of this treatment is its conservativeness, and it might be possible for it to be completed in just one visit to Leeds City Dentalcare. It’s an excellent way of giving teeth a better shape, as they can be cosmetically recontoured which involves removing a minimal amount of tooth material, before being bonded.

How is Dental Bonding Done?

The process for dental bonding is very quick and easy. It simply involves your tooth enamel being lightly etched as this will allow for better and stronger bonding with the composite resin. Dentist Leeds will select the correct coloured composite resin to exactly match your existing teeth. The resin is carefully applied to your teeth before being shaped and hardened with a special curing light. This helps it to bond to the tooth. Afterwards the composite resin will be contoured and polished so it will look just like natural tooth enamel.

Taking Care of Your Newly Bonded Teeth

After you’ve had your teeth bonded you’ll need to take good care of them to make the results last as long as possible. This means you should try not to chew or bite your fingernails, and you shouldn’t bite ice cubes. If you have bruxism or teeth grinding then make sure you use a night guard as otherwise you could damage your new bonding. It can also pay to avoid biting into very hard foods such as boiled sweets and nuts and very crisp apples.

If you have had an extensive amount of bonding done then you may want to eat soft foods for the first day or so until you’re sure your bite is absolutely perfect. Sometimes it may need slight modifications for it to be ideal. You’ll also need to take excellent care of your oral health, which of course all of us here at Leeds City Dentalcare hope you’re doing anyway. You should be brushing at least twice daily to remove plaque, and flossing at least once a day. When you floss pull it out horizontally rather than vertically to avoid placing any stress on your bonding.

Composite resin does stain after a few years but you can help make the effects of your bonding lasts longer by minimising your consumption of food and drink that could increase staining. This includes cutting down on coffee, tea and red wine, and other highly coloured foods such as curries and tomato based sauces.

Porcelain veneers are a very versatile cosmetic dental treatment that is relatively conservative. The beauty of having veneers fitted at our Leeds surgery is that relatively little tooth structure needs to be removed. In fact sometimes it may not be necessary to remove any tooth structure, depending on the position of the tooth and the type of veneer.

They are perfect for disguising a wide variety of defects as they can be used to close up or minimise gaps in between the teeth, they can disguise stains or discoloured teeth, and can correct slight chips and cracks. They can also be used to realign slightly crooked teeth, and make a good alternative to having orthodontic treatment. If you have teeth that are slightly misshapen or too small then veneers can be the perfect way to create a more pleasing appearance.

You can choose to have just one or two porcelain veneers fitted to mask specific defects in teeth, or they can be used as part of a smile makeover. This means they might be used in combination with other dental treatments, such as teeth whitening, dental implants Leeds or other crown and bridge work, although people with only minor imperfections in their teeth may find them perfect as a standalone treatment.

If they are to be used for a smile makeover, and you are having a substantial number of veneers, then it’s possible to pick a shade that’s a little lighter than your natural teeth. Anyone using veneers for this purpose is likely to require 8 to 10 veneers on their upper teeth, and approximately 8 on the lower teeth. The exact number depends on how many teeth you can see when you smile.

What Exactly Is a Veneer and What’s the Procedure for Having One?

A veneer is a very thin slip of porcelain that is designed to fit exactly over the front of your teeth, and possibly the top part of your tooth used for biting. It is relatively strong once cemented into position, but you do need to take care of it and treat it in the same way as you would your natural teeth.

Dr. David Brown or another dentist in Leeds will need to prepare the teeth for the veneers. This usually involves removing a small amount of material from the front of the tooth as the average veneer is around 0.5 mm thick. Once the teeth have been prepared an impression is taken of your teeth and sent to our dental laboratory so that the veneers can be constructed. This generally takes about two weeks. Afterwards you’ll be able to return to our Leeds surgery for fitting. The veneers will be tried in to make sure they fit accurately, and that they look good. At this stage it’s important you’re sure you like the way they look as minor alterations can still be made. Once you’re happy with the appearance of your new teeth, then they’ll be permanently cemented into place.

One thing to take into consideration with porcelain veneers in Leeds  is that if you do have material removed from your teeth it can never be replaced. This means you’ll need to budget to replace the veneers at regular intervals. Some people are suitable for a different type of veneer, sometimes called no prep veneers. These don’t require the removal of any tooth material as the veneers are ultrathin. The beauty of this system is that you can always choose to have the veneers removed without needing to replace them.

 

Dental decay is one of the most common oral diseases, and it is important to fill cavities as soon as possible to prevent further damage to the teeth. Dental fillings are a restorative dental treatment that helps the tooth return to full function, and the latest materials are designed to be extremely conservative, requiring only the decayed tooth material to be removed by your dentist. Leeds City Dental Care offers patients quite a few options for filling teeth, but the final choice may be down to the location of your tooth, and the size of the filling. It’s something Dr. David Brown or one of our other dentists will discuss with you at the time. Nowadays most people opt for tooth coloured fillings simply because they’re more cosmetically pleasing. In the past and these types of fillings might not been suitable for large areas of decay, but advancements in technology mean that just about all teeth can be restored in this way.

Composite Resin Fillings

Composite resin fillings are the most popular choice, as they are relatively long lasting and cost effective. You’ll only require one visit to our Leeds dental surgery and the results can be amazing. You’ll be given a local anesthetic so your tooth can be prepared for the tooth coloured white fillings in Leeds. The next step is to clean and dry the preparation ready for the filling material.

The surface of the preparation is lightly etched to create a better bond, and the filling is gradually placed in small increments of material. It’s not uncommon for our dentists to use several different shades to create a naturally beautiful looking restoration. The final restoration is hardened using a special light, and shaped and polished.

Composite fillings should last several years, but we’ll make sure they’re doing okay at every check-up by our dentist in Leeds city dental care. They are suitable for repairing front and back teeth but will eventually become a little stained.

CEREC Inlays

If you have a significant amount of decay in your back teeth then we may recommend a CEREC inlay. The beauty of CEREC is that an inlay can be created chair side in just one visit to our Leeds surgery. The restoration is milled from a solid block of ceramic using the latest CAD/CAM technology. The blocks come in a variety of shades and translucencies, so you get a precision fit beautiful new filling in an incredibly short space of time. The materials used are also extremely strong, and are suitable even for areas where you may bite or chew quite a lot. In the past these types of fillings would’ve been called indirect fillings, in that they required more than one visit to our dental surgery.

What about Amalgam Fillings?

A lot of people still have amalgam fillings, and although it may not be worthwhile replacing them while they are still viable, many are opting for more aesthetically pleasing materials when they do begin to leak and crumble. One of the disadvantages of amalgam is that it expands and contracts whenever it comes into contact with hot and cold foods and this can have the effect of weakening the tooth, making it more prone to fracturing or cracking.