Common Bad Teeth Problems and How to Fix Them
Bad teeth is usually an umbrella term to describe an array of oral health problems that usually affect a patient’s confidence and self-esteem. It’s not uncommon for our patients to suffer from any of the below problems, nor is it rare for patients to suffer from more than one.
As restorative and cosmetic dentists, we understand, more than most, how busy patients with bad teeth prefer to ignore the problem rather than deal with it. We get it; for most, it’s embarrassing, and for others, they are worried about the total cost of repairing their smile, especially if there are a few problems they’re dealing with.
But we’ve put this post together to put your mind at ease. Never be fearful of the dentist. We’re not here to judge you but to help you, and trust us when we tell you we’ve dealt with thousands of bad teeth cases – usually very easily and quickly. So, find your “bad teeth” problem below and learn what we can do to improve and transform your smile.
- Yellow teeth
- Crooked teeth
- Loose teeth
- Sensitive teeth
- Gappy teeth
- Gummy smiles
- Broken teeth
- Decayed teeth
- Too many teeth
- Gum disease
*Treatments mentioned below, like veneers, can be used to correct several smile issues in one, meaning you don’t need to undergo additional procedures to treat different issues with your smile.
1. Yellow or stained teeth
Causes:
- Poor oral hygiene
- Food product staining
- Smoking or ageing
Treatments:
- Tooth whitening (one appointment)
- Composite bonding or veneers (one appointment)
- Dental veneers (3 appointments)
Costs:
- Whitening from £260
- Composite from £500
- Veneers from £1,200 per tooth
2. Crooked teeth
Causes:
- Too many teeth cause crowding
- Tooth misalignment causes teeth to be uneven
- Jaw shape and jaw size
Treatments:
- Metal braces (12-24 months)
- Ceramic braces (6-12 months)
- Invisible braces (7 weeks to 12 months)
- Lingual braces (12 months)
- Dental veneers (3 appointments)
Costs:
- Metal braces from £2,000
- Ceramic braces from £2,500
- Invisible braces from £1,500
- Lingual braces from £5,000
- Dental veneers from £1,100 per tooth
See also protruding teeth.
3. Loose or wobbly teeth
Causes:
- Trauma or impact
- Poor oral health
- Gum disease
- Tooth grinding
Treatments:
- Root and scaling hygiene appointment to treat gum disease
- Dental bone grafts to rebuild bone in the jaw
- Dental bridge for a lost tooth
- Dental implant for a lost tooth
- Partial denture for a lost tooth
Costs:
- Hygiene appointments from £65
- Dental bone graft from £500
- Dental bridge from £1,200
- Dental implant from £2,450
- Partial denture from £350
4. Sensitive teeth
Causes:
- Worn enamel
- Exposed tooth roots
- Infection and decay
Treatments:
- Root canal (one appointment)
- Composite bonding (one appointment)
- Surgical gum grafts (two appointments)
- Fluoride treatments (one appointment)
- Dental veneers (3 appointments)
Costs:
- Root canals from £520
- Composite bonding from £350
- Surgical gum grafts from £500
- Fluoride treatments from £56
- Dental veneers from £1,100 per tooth
5. Gappy teeth
Causes:
- Missing or undersized teeth
- Oversized labial frenum
- Gum disease
- Size of teeth in relation to jawbone
Treatments:
- Invisalign (3-6 months)
- Composite bonding (one appointment)
- Composite veneers (immediate)
- Porcelain veneers (3 appointments)
Costs:
- Invisalign from £1,500
- Composite bonding from £350
- Composite veneers from £500 per tooth
- Porcelain veneers from £1,100 per tooth
6. Gummy smiles
Causes:
- The size and shape of teeth
- Gingival hypertrophy
- Partial dental eruption
- Genetics and anatomy
Treatments:
- Gum sculpting (same-day)
- Crown lengthening (same-day)
- Laser gum reshaping (one appointment)
- Gingival veneers (same-day)
Costs:
- *POA.
7. Chipped or broken teeth
Causes:
- Impact or trauma
- Biting down too hard
- Tooth grinding
- Dental decay
Treatments:
- Composite bonding (same-day)
- Composite veneers (immediately loaded)
- Porcelain veneers (three appointments)
- Dental crowns (same-day available)
Costs:
- Composite bonding from £350
- Composite veneers from £500 per tooth
- Porcelain veneers from £1,100 per tooth
- Dental crowns from £1,200
8. Heavily decayed teeth (or holes in teeth)
Causes:
- Poor oral hygiene
- Cavities and caries
- Drinking sugary drinks
- Plaque buildup
Treatments:
- Composite bonding (same-day)
- Composite veneers (immediately loaded)
- Porcelain veneers (three appointments)
- Dental crowns (same-day available)
- Dental fillings (white available)
Costs:
- Composite bonding from £350
- Composite veneers from £500 per tooth
- Porcelain veneers from £1,100 per tooth
- Dental crowns from £1,200
- Dental fillings from £150
9. Tooth many teeth
Causes:
- Congenital genetic disorders
- Hyperdontia
- Genetic factors
- Small jaw
Treatments:
- Tooth extraction (one appointment)
- Cosmetic braces (6-18 months)
- Invisalign aligners (7-12 months)
Costs:
- Tooth extraction from £150
- Cosmetic braces from £2,000
- Invisalign from £1,500
10. Extensive plaque build-up
Causes:
- Gum disease
- Poor oral hygiene
- Crowded teeth
Treatments:
- Dental cleaning, root planning and scaling (required first)
- Porcelain, composite or gingival veneers to close gaps between teeth
- Cosmetic braces or Invisalign to treat crowding (3-12 months)
Costs:
- Hygienist appointments from £65
- Dental veneers from £500 per tooth
- Invisalign from £1,500 / cosmetic braces from £2,000
