Has your Dentist said it’s time to have an old filling or crown replaced? You may be wondering why – especially if you have not experienced any pain or problems. At AXIS Dental Group, we want new and returning patients to understand what to expect from dental restorations (fillings and crowns) and why they sometimes need to be replaced.
Most dental problems may not be evident to patients. When you consider the daily stresses exerted on your teeth, it is not surprising that restorations eventually wear out and need to be replaced. There are a number of reasons to replace outdated restorations. They may include:
Cracks
A great deal of force is placed on your teeth every day. The average human bites with several hundred pounds of pressure per square inch. This biting pressure can result in tiny cracks in the tooth.
Chips
If the cracks are not repaired in time, the tooth may break or chip. Sometimes this will necessitate a larger, more complex and costly restoration. Often these teeth will require crowns. Cracks can also form in the porcelain of a crown.
Wear
Although there are a number of factors that affect the life of a dental restoration, the average silver filling, crown or bridge may last from five to 15 years depending upon the side. The average composite (plastic tooth-coloured filling) may only last half as long.
Leakage
Fillings may start to leak around their edges due to wear and trauma. Often leakage on the biting surface of a crown goes unnoticed by patients. This allows bacteria easy access to the deeper areas of the tooth. Once the bacteria are inside the tooth or crown, they cannot be removed and decay may begin rapidly again.
Recurring Decay
Increased exposure to the elements that caused the original cavity make it possible to get another cavity in the same tooth near the original filling. Even the best filling is not impervious to decay
Esthetics
Over time, fillings begin to tarnish (if they are silver) or stain (if they are composites). While this may not cause direct harm to the tooth immediately, it does detract from the esthetics of your mouth and smile.
Periodontal (Gum) Disease
Many patients are unaware that most teeth are lost due to gum disease – not decay. If left untreated, periodontal disease progresses, and the gum tissues move lower on the root. Eventually, bone is lost and teeth become loose.
At AXIS Dental Group we believe it is in your best interest to have small dental problems corrected early so they will not become larger dental problems later.
Our office is conveniently located in the Dixie Plaza at 14 Lisa Street, south of Queen Street East and west off Dixie Road in Brampton. New to the Brampton, Caledon, Georgetown, Halton Hills, Milton, Mississauga, Oakville, Orangeville, Richmond Hill area and looking for professional dental care? Contact us right now to book a free consultation with one of our caring and qualified Dentists to learn more about replacing outdated fillings and crowns.
