Listen to Your Dentist When They Recommend Wisdom Teeth Extraction

If you bite your nails, enjoy hard or crunchy foods, or grind your teeth, your teeth may have suffered as a result. Although some don't even notice it, teeth that are exposed to repetitive grinding can become worn down. If you have this problem, your teeth could be at risk of damage from a host of things. Read on to learn more about this condition and what you can do if your teeth are damaged from grinding, biting, or chewing.

How Teeth Get Chewed Down

Teeth are designed to put up with a lot of stress and wear and tear, since they're needed to chew and grind your food. However, a lot more pressure and stress goes into biting one's nails, biting into extremely hard food like brittle, or grinding one's teeth than is typical of chewing normal food. If these behaviors are performed often enough, it can start to wear down the enamel of one's teeth. Over time, this can wear down the surface of your tooth, which can make the end of your teeth look ragged, shortened, or rough.

Unfortunately, this can also increase your risk of developing cavities, as the protective layer of enamel will be worn down and no longer protecting your teeth from acids, bacteria, and plaque.

Why Crowns are a Good Idea

Dental crowns are designed to mimic the appearance of healthy teeth, which means that the look of your smile can be restored. In addition, dental crowns also help to protect teeth that have been damaged from being harmed further. If you continue to bite down on hard surfaces, your dental crowns will take the impact rather than your teeth. In addition, crowns will provide protection from acids and bacteria, so your teeth will be much better protected than if they're left exposed once damage has been done to them.

What To Expect

Crowns are designed and fitted to each individual patient, so multiple visits to the dentist may be necessary. When you visit your dentist, they will clean and examine your teeth and inspect the damage that's been done to your teeth. If you're a suitable candidate for crowns, your dentist will take a mold of your mouth to order custom-fitted crowns for you. In some instances, your dentist may fit you with temporary crowns in order to protect your teeth in the interim.

Once your custom crowns are finished, you'll be called back to the office to have them fitted. These crowns will be attached to your teeth with a professional-grade dental cement that will keep them snugly in place.

In the long run, it's a good idea to stop doing whatever it is that damaged your teeth, whether it's biting your nails, eating extremely hard food, or grinding your teeth. If you need advice on how to protect your teeth from further damage, talk to your dentist for advice. For more information, contact a dentist such as Mainwaring John D DDS.