We just learned that our biting force can be as much as 300 pounds per square inch in the first molar region of our mouths. Our jaws are literally as powerful as walnut crackers! Although your dentist does not recommend it, some people actually do crack walnuts with their teeth 😉
How does all that biting force come into play when a person has old dental fillings? The straight answer is- old dental fillings really weaken our teeth 🙁 and make them prone to three types of fracture.
1- a tooth can fracture on the outside enamel (treatment with a filling or crown)
2- a tooth can fracture into the nerve (treatment with a root canal and crown)
3- a tooth can fracture into the jaw bone (treatment only with an extraction and replacement of the tooth with a denture, bridge, or implant)
The actual type of fracture that can occur from old dental fillings is completely unpredictable but totally preventable. Call us today and we can help you avoid any teeth breaking in the first place!
