We have had patients ask us this question when we show them teeth that are beginning to chip. The damage might be subtle now but it is a sign of bigger problems to come if the cause of the chipping is not addressed. The bigger problem is it is a sign that the whole system of your joints, muscles, and teeth and not functioning in harmony. You can’t talk, bite, or chew without moving your whole lower jaw. Your lower jaw is part of your temporomandibular joint. The whole system is ruled by your muscles. So we can’t predictably fix any of your teeth without first knowing how the whole system of joints, muscles, and teeth are functioning.
When the system does not function in harmony, the following signs and symptoms appear:
- Worn, chipped, broken teeth
- Loose teeth
- Exposure of tooth layers and loss of enamel
- Tooth sensitivity
- Jaw pain
- Headache and facial pain
- Earache from joint damage or jaw muscle tension
- A scalloped tongue or irregular tongue edges
- Gum Recession
So while small chips, slightly mobile teeth, or a slight “tension headache” may not seem like a big deal, they are usually early warning signs of a bigger problem. If this bigger problem is not addressed, then those “small chips” become broken teeth or teeth with significant wear that need restorative dentistry like crowns or veneers to replace the damage. If the disharmony of the system is not addressed when those crowns or veneers are done, then they won’t last as long as they should either. The slightly mobile teeth become loose teeth that lose bone and gum support around them. The slight tension headache becomes more consistent headaches and muscle soreness… and so and so on.
So if you are experiencing any of these signs or symptoms or have had dentistry done that didn’t last as long as it should, come visit us at our Buckhead dental office. We can complete a thorough exam and make sure your whole system is functioning the way it should. If it is not, we can deal with things conservatively as opposed to having to do a bunch of dentistry in the future as things breakdown.
Welcoming patients from Buckhead, Atlanta, Sandy Springs, and Dunwoody.