No More Natural Teeth: Deciding Between Implants and Dentures

2 Tips To Protect Your Gold Inlays And Onlays From Developing Cracks

by Jeremiah Barnett

A decayed tooth can quickly contaminate nearby teeth if it is not treated. In order to treat your decayed tooth, your dentist will remove the decay and cover up the tooth using a filling, crown or inlays and onlays. Inlays and onlays are considered to be just as efficient as crowns and fillings. They are composed of a number of materials, including gold. Gold inlays and onlays can remain healthy for a long time when treated with care. However, bad habits can cause your gold inlays and onlays to crack prematurely. When your dental restoration cracks, your tooth is more susceptible to bacterial infection underneath the restoration. Fortunately, there are a few tips that you can use to keep your gold inlays and onlays from developing cracks.

Avoid Using Your Tooth as a Tool

It can be easy to substitute your teeth for a bottle or can opener. While in the moment, this may seem harmless, it can actually cause damage. When you use your teeth as a tool to open tough objects, the force that is needed to open these objects places an unnecessary amount of stress on your natural teeth and on your restoration, wearing away its composition. Over time, you may notice chips and cracks on your natural teeth and your inlays and onlays. To avoid this, stick to using can openers, scissors and your hands for opening products.

Avoid Chewing on Hard Materials

One of the simplest ways to create cracks in your inlays and onlays is by biting down on foods that are hard or difficult to chew. Meats that are not thoroughly cooked, nuts and other hard foods strain your teeth. The pressure that these foods exert on your teeth will cause your restoration to weaken quickly. You can slow cook your meats in order to avoid this problem. In addition, if you have a habit of chewing on pens and pencils, then it is important to put a stop to this. The constant chewing will wear away at your gold inlays and onlays. If you find yourself chewing on an object as a result of stress, consider drinking natural relaxant teas like lavender to help relax your body.

Your gold inlays and onlays will not last forever. However, bad habits can be destructive to your restoration and cause them to crack quickly. Therefore, use these tips to make sure that your restoration remains healthy.

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