There is more than one kind of dent that can affect your car during a collision. Repair methods depend on the type and severity of the dent. Read on to learn more.

1. Round

Round dents are one of the best types of dents to get in a collision as they are the simplest to repair. These dents create a shallow, rounded bowl on the metal panel. The paint is typically unharmed and the interior and edges of the dent are smooth. Repair is as simple as popping out the dent so the panel is smooth again. This is usually completed with suction cups or by applying pressure behind the dent. 

2. Sharp

A sharp dent is similar to a round one, except the object that made the dent damaged the paint inside the dent. Although these dents can usually be popped out similar to a round dent, the paint must be repaired for both appearance-related reasons and to prevent rust. This requires cleaning out the dent, sanding the area, and then reapplying the paint and layers of a clear coating until it matches the surrounding paint.

3. Dings

Dings aren't true dents as there is no damage to the panel itself. A ding only affects the paint job. Anything can cause a ding, from a minor collision to a door or shopping cart hitting your car in a parking lot. Repair of a ding is only a paint repair. If a single panel has multiple dings, it may make more sense to re-paint the entire panel instead of just patching up the dings. 

4. Puncture

A puncture is a dent with a hole in it because an object actually pierced the panel during the collision. A small puncture can sometimes be repaired. The dent is popped or hammered out, and then a patching material is bonded to the panel to cover the hole. Once the patching material cures, it's sanded and smoothed. Finally, the entire panel is repainted to match the rest of the car.

5. Crease

A crease is caused when something scrapes across the panel during a collision. It indents the metal, almost as though the metal began to fold around the object. Fixing a crease is similar to fixing a sharp dent. The panel is first popped and hammered smooth, and then the area is repainted. A major crease may require some patching to even out the panel. 

Contact a collision repair service if you need to fix any kind of dent.