We know. You do it without thinking. It’s just a habit. It’s more convenient than stopping to grab a knife or pair of scissors.
But it is NOT a good idea to use your teeth as tools. This can cause damage to your teeth that is expensive to repair.
What are Some Common Ways that People Use their Teeth as Tools?
As dentists, we have seen it all. We see fishermen who use their front teeth to cut fishing lines. We see hair stylists using teeth to hold hair pins. Many different types of people use their teeth to tear open plastic packaging or open plastic bottles. Almost unbelievably, we even see people use their teeth to remove metal bottle caps.
Using your teeth for anything other than chewing is what we consider paranormal function because it is outside the realm of normal activity for teeth.
Why is Using my Teeth as a Tool Dangerous?
Healthy teeth are beautiful and strong. They have the perfect design to accomplish their intended function of chewing. They do NOT have the perfect design to tear open packages, cut fishing lines, and hold bobby pins.
These paranormal activities place unusual forces on the hard tooth structures that they are not capable of withstanding, and they will weaken in some way.
And that just applies to healthy teeth.
When teeth are not healthy and strong, the risk for damage from abnormal activity is extremely high. Teeth that have active decay or extensive dental work are weaker than natural teeth and will suffer damage much more easily. Some teeth have already experienced a thinning of the enamel due to acid erosion from a dry mouth or severe acid reflux. These teeth have less natural protection and have a high risk for damage.
What Kind of Damage Can I Cause Using My Teeth as a Tool?
The most common problem we see from using teeth as tools is chipping along the biting edges. This can range from minor chipping that is almost invisible to the naked eye to large fractures deep into the tooth.
Some people notice a jagged appearance to the biting edges of their front teeth that develops slowly over time. Others have a single incident that causes loss of a significant portion of a tooth.
Using your teeth as tools can also break or dislodge existing dental work, so you might have crowns or fillings fall out.
How Does a Dentist Repair this Damage?
The type of dental procedure necessary to repair damage from using your teeth as tools depends on the extent of the damage and the presence of any existing dental work. Here are the most common types of dental treatments we use to repair damaged teeth.
Tooth-Colored Composite Resin Filling
When the damage from opening items with your teeth is relatively minor, we can replace the missing tooth structure with a perfectly matched, tooth-colored filling called composite resin. This material is conservative in that it does not require the removal of healthy tooth structure. It has an adhesive bone with natural enamel and dentin (the hard tissues making up the teeth), and your dentist uses it to rebuild what was lost.
This type of repair is relatively inexpensive, and it is repairable itself if you happen to damage it again. Unfortunately, it is pretty susceptible to chipping and breaking, so if you do not stop the habit, you will likely find yourself replacing this material on a frequent basis.
Porcelain Veneer
Some people opt for a porcelain veneer when a tooth-colored filling suffers frequent chipping or dislodging. A porcelain veneer covers the entire visible surface of a tooth, and the porcelain material is much harder than tooth-colored composite resin. This means that it is stronger and less likely to break.
Porcelain veneers are more expensive, and they are not repairable. If you break a veneer, the entire thing must be replaced.
Porcelain Crown
A crown covers the entire exposed portion of the tooth (everything except the root). This is an important treatment when the tooth has extensive dental work already existing, or repeated attempts at repairing the chipped or broken tooth fail to last.
A porcelain crown is the most invasive (it requires the removal of healthy tooth structure) treatment option. It is also the least likely to suffer breaking or dislodging.
More Questions about Bad Habits with Your Teeth? Contact Rockland Dental Today
Call Rockland Dental Specialists today to schedule a consultation with one of our experts. We will assess your current situation and help you make positive changes in order to protect your teeth and keep them healthy for a lifetime. Call us at (845) 259-2500 or complete our online contact form today!
