With certain types of concerns with your teeth, the severity of the problem can be determined by how much of your tooth structure is affected by it. For example, a tooth that has a small piece chipped off of its surface may not seem like it’s in serious trouble, even if the chipped part of the tooth is highly visible. However, the truth is that any form of damage to your tooth’s natural structure should be taken seriously. Given enough time, even seemingly minor damage can become much more severe, and pose a much greater threat to your overall oral health.
What minor tooth damage typically indicates
What is typically referred to as “minor” tooth damage indicates problems that don’t affect a large area or portion of the tooth’s structure. This can include a small piece being chipped off, a part of the tooth being worn-down, or a small fracture developing in the tooth’s surface. At first, these problems may not pose immediate threats to the long-term health and integrity of the tooth. With the right care, your dentist can restore the tooth with minimally invasive treatment.
The severity of growing tooth problems
The problem with seemingly minor tooth damage is that its impact on your oral health won’t remain minor for long if the tooth isn’t restored. A small chip in a tooth’s structure can make the tooth weaker overall, and the damage can grow more extensive as friction from biting and chewing continues to wear away at the chipped part of the tooth. Light cracks in a tooth’s surface can continue growing worse until the tooth’s main structure cracks, as well, and requires more involved treatment to restore the tooth’s health and integrity.
How to stop tooth damage from getting worse
Whether a tooth is damaged significantly or the damage seems minor for now, it’s important to restore the tooth as soon as possible to stop it from getting worse. The reason why all forms of tooth damage are serious is because a tooth’s natural structure won’t heal itself when it’s compromised. The only to stop the damage to your tooth from getting worse is to treat it with a custom-designed restoration, such as a dental crown, to restore the tooth’s strength and integrity while protecting its natural, undamaged structure from harm.
Find the best way to address your tooth damage
Even when damage to your tooth seems minor, the implications of it can become increasingly more serious until you address it. To learn more, schedule an appointment with us by calling Dreem Dentistry in Leawood, KS, today at 913-681-5500. We also serve patients who live in Overland Park and all surrounding communities.
