How to Save a Tooth That’s Structurally Damaged

While preventive dentistry is the foundation of keeping your smile consistently healthy, the art of restoring a tooth that’s been compromised can be just as important. Healthy, natural tooth structure is incredibly resilient, and able to withstand enormous amounts of pressure. However, your tooth structure can become damaged (i.e., fractured, worn down, or broken) in several different ways. When this occurs, the damage to your tooth will not resolve itself. In fact, the only way to save the tooth is to restore it, which will allow you to continue biting and chewing on the tooth without it becoming even more compromised.

Why the damage is more serious than you think

Despite being some of the strongest parts of your body, your teeth can become instantly threatened once one of them becomes damaged. The main reason for this is that tooth structure doesn’t heal on its own, as other tissues throughout your body do. This means any form of damage, no matter how minor, is bound to get worse over time, and threaten more of your tooth’s structure as it progresses. The longer you wait to treat a damaged tooth, the greater the risk will be of losing it, or needing to have it extracted due to extreme damage by the time you do seek treatment for it.

Stopping the damage from getting worse

Because of the progressive nature of all forms of tooth damage, one of the most important aspects of restoring the tooth is stopping this progression. You can’t just stop exposing the tooth to pressure, as biting and chewing are vital parts of your everyday routine. However, a custom-designed restoration, such as a dental crown, can protect and restore the tooth to help it regain its strength and structural integrity. With a custom-designed restorative treatment, you can protect the tooth from your bite’s pressure, while also restoring your bite’s ability to function properly without harming the tooth.

Restoring the tooth’s function, as well

In addition to protecting a tooth from suffering more severe damage, a custom dental restoration is also meant to restore your whole smile. Particularly, your bite’s ability to function, which can be compromised when one or more teeth are unable to perform comfortably. Restoring your bite’s function is a significant advantage unto itself, but it also has several important benefits for your oral and overall health. For instance, biting and chewing are necessary to stimulate your jawbone and keep it healthy, which helps ensure adequate support for your healthy, natural teeth.

Learn more about saving a damaged tooth

A tooth that’s been structurally damaged can compromise your oral health in several different ways, which is why saving your smile requires restoring the tooth. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling Gentle Smiles in Dallas, TX, today at 972-329-7645 (972-329-SMILE).