PatientX

Why should you replace old fillings?

Most patients have old fillings that are amalgam or metal based fillings.  The materials that these fillings are made of last around 8-10 years.  After that time, the material starts to break down and the fillings start to show signs of leakage.  Over time, the leakage can lead to new cavities under the old fillings.

I took some photos of my dental assistant's teeth to show you what happens to old fillings.  She is a young lady and these fillings have been in her mouth for 12 years.  She is not having any problems with them.  The fillings just are turning black in color. 

 

Now I will show you a photo of what the teeth look like after I remove the old fillings.  You will notice that there are new cavities under all three fillings.  The center one is particularly bad.  There is significant decay and there are cracks on this tooth. 

What causes the cracks?  The physical property of metal is that it expands more than natural teeth when it gets hot.  So every time when you drink coffee or soup, the filling expands.  Over a long time, like 10 years, the daily expansion of the filling leads to excessive stress on the surrounding teeth, hence causing cracks.  By the time we remove the new decay, there will be very little sound tooth structure left.  This tooth will need a crown. 

I like to recommend that patients replace their small and medium sized old fillings.  By doing so, you will prevent major cracks on teeth and reduce your need for more crowns in the future. 

Fractured tooth

This patient has a tooth that required a crown.  The crown was not done and a filling was placed instead. 

The tooth fractured subsequently, to below the gum lines, so she required gum surgery in addition to the crown to repair the tooth. 

Moreover, a crown is like a cap.  It sits on top of the tooth.  The less tooth there is below the crown, the weaker it is, so it will not last as long or be as strong as a tooth that had a crown done before the tooth fractured.

   

 

Grinding teeth or Bruxism

This is an example of what happens to people who grind their teeth over a long period of time and who do not wear nightguards or have anything done.

Improving Your Smile

Are you happy with your smile?  How important do you think a great smile is? 

In a survey conducted by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, 92 percent of respondents said they believe a great smile is a vital social asset; 88 percent said an unattractive smile can make you less appealing to members of the opposite sex.

Your smile is your most valuable asset because it is the first thing people see.  It plays a major role in how you interact with others.  It also affects your personal relationships and how you feel about yourself.  An attractive smile exudes your confidence and encourages social interaction. 

If you are dissatisfied with your smile and desire a change, your dentist has a variety of treatments that can improve your lifestyle. 

The simplest and least expensive way to improve your smile is through teeth whitening.  Have you ever noticed that your favorite television personalities have nice white teeth?  Well, so can you. 

Many whitening products have been around for a long time and have proven to be simple, safe, and effective.  In most cases, yellowed, discolored, and old looking teeth can be whitened in just 1-2 hours at the dental office.  Alternatively, two weeks of home whitening can give similar results. 

If you desire a more complete makeover to achieve a brighter smile and recapture your youthful appearance, porcelain veneers may be the solution. 

Porcelain veneers are ultra thin pieces of tooth colored porcelain that have transformed esthetic dentistry.  They can change an unattractive smile into one that is absolutely beautiful.  In fact, some of the popular makeover television shows owe much of their success to the beauty of porcelain veneers. 

Veneers can improve smiles that have crooked or widely spaced teeth.  They can make short teeth longer and dark teeth lighter and they can repair broken down or chipped teeth.

Porcelain veneers are stronger and more durable than traditional white fillings.  They resist staining from coffee and food, which means that your smile can be just as beautiful years from now.

Finally, getting porcelain veneers is really pretty simple.  One of the great advantages of veneers is that they are typically finished in as little as 2 weeks, so they are a great choice for adults who want to transform their smiles and who want to do it quickly.

Dr. Hugh Leung possesses a Masters Degree in Dental Public Health from Harvard University.  He has been in practice for 11 years and maintains a dental practice in Kent.  The website for his practice is at www.KentFamilyDentistry.com .  431 East Ward Street, Kent, WA 98030 (253) 852-7910  DrLeung@KentFamilyDentistry.com .