Not all dental damage is created equal. Our Orland Park dentists offer restorative treatments to correct all types of damage; when you meet with our team, we’ll tailor your restorative plan to address the type and severity of damage you’re dealing with, as well as your ideal timeline. Keep reading to learn more about some of the ways our smiles become injured.
Discrete Instances of Trauma
For many of us, when we think about dental damage, we think about problems that arise suddenly, due to injury or accident. Maybe you didn’t wear your protective mouth guard when playing a contact sport, or you were in a bicycle or car accident. Patients also chip or knock out teeth due to falls on ice or slippery floors.
This type of damage occurs instantaneously, and necessitates prompt treatment. Especially if your tooth has been knocked out of your mouth, it is crucial that you seek emergency dental treatment—your tooth is only viable for a few hours after it has been dislodged.
Acid Erosion
Your dental enamel may also weaken and degrade due to acid exposure. Acidic foods and drinks—including soft drinks, wine, fruit juices, and coffee—all temporarily soften dental enamel (this is call demineralization). It takes about 20 to 30 minutes after exposure for your enamel to remineralize, and become stronger again.
If your teeth have been effected by acid erosion, you may notice that you experience more dental sensitivity than you used to. Your enamel may also start to look dull and yellow, while accumulating cracks and chips.
Bruxism
Bruxism is a chronic dental condition characterized by grinding and clenching of the teeth. Bruxism may occur due to increased stress, or due to structural imbalances with the patient’s dental alignment.
Essentially, bruxism causes immense tooth-on-tooth pressure. Enamel thus develops cracks and chips so small they are invisible to the naked eye, but over time these imperfections expand and become more severe.
Our Tinley Park dentists encourage you to stay alert for any signs of emerging damage or infection in your own smile. Reach out to our team to learn more, and to schedule a personal consultation!