The "Permanent" Filling

One of the most frequent questions patients ask is, "Is this a permanent filling?" Without getting too involved in technical aspects of modern restorative materials, the answer is usually no. All filling materials have a life span of several to many years, depending on the restorative material used. As a rule of thumb for moderate to large restorations, the more it costs, the longer it will last.

Types of fillings

Dental restorative materials constructed and processed in a dental laboratory will be stronger and harder and will last longer than silver amalgam (metal) fillings and office-placed composites (tooth-colored/bonded) filling materials. These laboratory-constructed materials include indirect restorations such as full cast crowns, inlays and onlays of porcelain, gold and gold alloys, ceramics, and resins. While the dentist will have certain preferences, you have the final decision over which material is to be used. To make the decision process easier, here is a brief summary of the advantages and disadvantages of materials commonly used in partial coverage restorations. Porcelain fused to gold alloy crowns are not included here as they are in a different category.

Cast Gold: The color of the cast gold is yellow, the same as a wedding ring. It can last 25 to 40 or more years - the longest of any dental material. Gold has a long history of success. Esthetics are poor to fair. The cost is high. However, the use of cast gold results in the fewest postoperative problems. It is excellent for medium to large tooth restoration. Two appointments are necessary to complete the restoration.

Technique Requirements: High

Laboratory-Processed Bonded Porcelains, Ceramics, and Resin: These materials produce excellent esthetics: they match the tooth color almost perfectly. The cost is moderate to high. With respect to longevity, it is probably not as long as cast gold, but should last for 12 or more years. Usually, less tooth preparation (drilling) is required than when using gold. These are relatively new dental procedures. They do not have the long-term history of success enjoyed by gold. These materials can break if overstressed. Resin is easier to repair than porcelain, is less expensive than porcelain and ceramic, and is an excellent choice for medium to large restorations. Two appointments are needed to complete these restorations.

Technique Requirements: High

Direct Resins: Direct resins also provide excellent esthetics. Minimal tooth preparation is involved. These are the best materials for small to medium tooth restorations. Direct resins are less costly than gold or porcelains. They are bonded to the tooth. Life expectancy of the material is 12 or more years, and this newer technology strengthens the tooth. Direct resins can be completed in one visit.

Technique Requirements: High

Silver Metal Amalgam: Silver amalgam was first used as a filling material in 1816. Proven longevity of 14 years, plus or minus 14 years. Silver amalgam does not strengthen the tooth. It is not conservative in tooth preparation. The esthetics are poor. It blackens, corrodes, and expands over time. It is the lowest in cost of all the restorative materials.

Technique Requirements: Low

We will select and recommend the restorative materials best suited to meet your dental needs. Insurance coverage (or lack of it) will never dictate what dental treatment we feel you need and deserve. Our goal is to be able to provide for you the best and longest lasting restorations possible. We will be glad to discuss these options with you.

If you have any questions about "permanent" fillings, please feel free to ask us.
 

Give Yourself A 60-Second Dental Check-Up

Regular visits to your dentists are absolutely essential to prevent serious dental problems. But it is also important to give yourself an oral check-up from time to time. This simple process just takes a minute, but it can yield valuable clues to the health of your mouth, teeth, and gums.

Stand before a well-lit mirror and open your mouth wide.

1. Check your gum line and the lines between your teeth
Good: There should be no brown lines here
Bad: If you see brown lines, that is a sign of tartar build-up
What to do: Time to go to the dentist. Once the brown lines are cleaned up at the clinic, regular flossing will keep tartar away.

2. Stick out your tongue. What does the surface look like? 
Good: A healthy tongue should be pink
Bad: If it is coated with white, it can be an indication of poor digestion. This coating also results in bad breath.
What to do: Use a stainless steel scraper to clean your tongue every morning. 

3. Are there ridges along your tongue? 
Bad: This is often a sign of tooth grinding. People may not be aware they grind their teeth, but it can happen when they are stressed. 
What to do: If you wake up with an aching jaw, you should see a dentist.

4. Take a look at the inside of your cheeks. 
Bad: Do you see white patches? These can occur if you chew the inside of your mouth when you bite and chew your food. 
What to do: These should be checked by your dentist because a wound inside the cheek can not only get infected, but may also be a sign of pre-cancerous changes, especially in smokers. An ulcer that does not heal within three weeks should also be investigated.

5. How do your gums look?
Good: If they are pink and rosy, your gums are in good health. 
Bad: But if they are red, it is a signal that gingivitis or gum inflammation has turned into gum disease. Another clue: gums that bleed when you brush your teeth. 
What to do: Your dentist can help you with a course of antibiotics and dental hygiene guidance on how to rebuild gum health. 

Bad: Pale gums can indicate iron deficiency - a warning sign of anemia. 
What to do: Up your intake of green vegetables, tofu, chickpeas, lentils, and dried fruits such as raisins and prunes.

Why Do We Have Morning Breath?

Morning breath, halitosis, can be unpleasant and it probably isn't the way you want to greet your partner, or your day. But, everyone has morning breath to some degree. 

 

Why? When you sleep, your mouth dries out because your normal flow of saliva decreases. When your mouth dries out, odor-producing bacteria proliferate. 

If you snore or breathe through your mouth at night, you are more likely to have bad breath in the morning that those who don't. In both situations, your mouth is even more prone to drying out, setting the stage for bacteria to grow.

 

Other causes of bad breath:

 

- Medications: Some medications can cause your mouth to become dry overnight, worsening your halitosis. This is why older people, who are often on medications, frequently find their breath more unpleasant in the morning.

- Smoking: Smoking not only causes your saliva - your natural mouth rinse - to dry up, but also can raise the temperature of your mouth, making it a breeding ground for that dreaded bacteria that causes bad breath. 

- Allergies: The mucus that drips down the back of your throat becomes a food source for bacteria. Should your postnasal drop become infected, it can put more odor-causing bacteria in your mouth.

 

How to treat bad breath:

- Brush: Odor-causing bacteria accumulate between your teeth and on your tongue, so practicing good dental hygiene will do a lot to improve your morning breath. 

• When you brush your teeth, brush your tongue too. Another favorite repository for odor-causing bacteria is the back of your tongue. You will notice your breath is fresher in the morning if you brush your tongue before you go to bed.

• Brush for at least two minutes - not the 35 or 40 seconds that many people do.

• After you brush, go directly to bed. Do not eat or drink anything, so that you are not leaving  food in your mouth. 

- Floss: Click here for our blog post on how to properly floss your teeth. Brushing alone will not remove the food particles that can become stuck between your teeth and gums. It is just as important as brushing. Click here for our blog post on common flossing mistakes.

- Rinse: Mouthwash will get rid of the odor, but only temporarily. When you are buying mouthwash to kill the germs that can cause bad breath, look for one that has a seal of approval from the American Dental Association.

• A quick swish will not do it. If the direction say rinse for 30 seconds, then you must. The mouth rinse has to be in there long enough to kill the bacteria. You are not going to get the full effect if you rinse for 5 to 10 seconds 

http://www.everydayhealth.com/dental-health/why-do-we-have-morning-breath.aspx

Diabetes and Gum Disease

 

Nearly 37 million North Americans are living with diabetes, and gum disease is a major risk factor and complication of diabetes.

Studies have shown that the relationship is a two-way street. Periodontal disease (gum disease) can affect insulin sensitivity and lead to unhealthy blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, it is very important to monitor and manage your oral health, as people with uncontrolled blood sugar are more prone to tooth and gum problems. 

Since gum disease often does not present itself with many, if any, symptoms or pain, you may not even be aware that you have it until it becomes serious. Watch for:

1) Swollen or tender gums, or bleeding when you brush.

2) Chronic bad breath or bad taste in your mouth.

3) Loose teeth or teeth that are drifting apart.

Taking control of your oral health can help control or prevent diabetes. Brush and floss your teeth twice daily, and book appointments with us today to protect your health and the health of your family. 
 

Teeth Whitening! How often do I need it?

       


Teeth whitening is one of the more desirable dental treatments that patients are actively seeking. At its core, there’s usually a bleaching material that’s mainly comprised of hydrogen peroxide. There many products in the market today that will achieve your desired results. All whitening systems can be divided into two major types: In office and Take home.
In office whitening will be done in one or more visits and usually at the dental chair. First whitening material will be added to your teeth and usually an activating agent (i.e. light source) that will trigger the reaction between your teeth and the whitening material. Take home kit includes pre-made trays that have the whitening material embedded in them. All you need to do is to place the tray in your mouth, make sure the strips are in contact with your teeth. You keep them on for 15-20 mins and then remove, rinse and brush and floss. If you don’t need immediate results, meaning you’re not going to a wedding tomorrow, then use the take home kit. It achieves a higher degree of shade difference and it’s more kind to your enamel.

Always remember to check with our highly trained and knowledgeable staff to find the best results you are looking for and before changing any of your dental habits.

We are located at 3 easy locations around Austin, give us a call today!

William Cannon Drive (south): 512.445.5811

Jollyville Road: 512.346.8424

Hymeadow Drive (north): 512.250.5012

White Fillings vs. Silver

If you have to get a filling, you and your dentist have lots of materials to choose from. Before your appointment, get up to speed on your options.

Fillings That Look Like Your Teeth

Composite fillings are the most widely-used dental filling material. They’re made of glass or quartz in resin.
Advantages: Your dentist can closely match the color of a composite filling to the color of your surrounding natural teeth.
Disadvantages: Just like your own teeth, composite fillings can stain or discolor over time.
Your dentist may consider a composite filling if the cavity is small to medium-sized, or if the affected tooth gets a lot of chewing action. These may also be a good choice for people who are afraid of dental work, since a composite can be bonded in place, which means less drilling.

Fillings That Release Fluoride

The newer options for dental fillings include glass ionomers, made of acrylic acids and fine-glass powders.
Advantages: Glass ionomer fillings can be colored to blend in with surrounding natural teeth. Plus, they can be designed to release small amounts of fluoride, which helps prevent decay.
Disadvantages: These fillings can fracture, so they aren’t appropriate for chewing surfaces.
Because of their fragile nature, dentists may suggest this type of filling for cavities near the gum line or to fill between teeth.

Crowns That Look Like Your Teeth

When you need a crown, inlay, or veneer, the go-to is typically porcelain, ceramic, or another glass-like material.
Advantages: The color closely matches natural teeth. The components are  durable and very hard.
Disadvantages: Porcelain restorations require several dentist visits and can cost more than some other filling options.
Dentists choose porcelain for veneers because it can be formed into thin shells that fit over enamel, the outer surface of your teeth.

 

Affordable, Long-lasting Fillings

Dentists have used amalgam to fill cavities for more than a century. These fillings are alloys that combine silver, tin, copper, and mercury.
Advantages: They’re are durable and long-lasting. Plus, amalgam is one of the least expensive materials.
Disadvantages: Amalgam is silver-colored, so fillings will show. Cavities filled with amalgam are often temporarily sensitive to hot or cold.
Some people may have concerns about the safety of mercury in amalgam, but the American Dental Association considers this material safe.

Affordable Crowns, Fixed Bridges, and Partials

“Silver” fillings are actually made of base metal alloys that look like silver. They are typically used for crowns, fixed bridges, and partial dentures.
Advantages: Silver fillings are strong and resistant to fracture and wear. They are also relatively inexpensive.
Disadvantages: Cavities filled with silver may be sensitive to heat or cold. Metal alloys don’t match natural teeth.

Gold Crowns Resistant to Tarnishing

Gold fillings are indeed made of gold, combined with other metals. They are typically used for inlays, crowns, and fixed bridges.
Advantages: Gold fillings are strong and highly resistant to corrosion and tarnishing.
Disadvantages: The metallic color doesn’t match natural teeth, so gold is most often used for back teeth or cavities that don’t show.

Cosmetic Elective Periodontal Plastic Surgery: Tissue Recontouring

It is not uncommon for us to suggest to a patient who has absolutely no signs of peridontal (gum) disease to seriously consider having elective periodontal procedures performed. In these cases, the procedures are almost always needed to improve appearance. Soemtimes they are suggested to promote future periodontal health or attend to a potential problem that might develop.

When you smile or talk, your teeth are framed by your lips and the visible gum tissue. People looking at you notice your teeth. People notice missing teeth, tooth alignment, gum color, discolored fillings, silver fillings, tooth color, and how much of your teeth actually show. If everything is integrated well and looks natural, people say you have a nice smile. If something does not look natural, it may be easy to define, such as crooked, stained, or yellow teeth; periodontal disease shown by red-colored gum tissue; or discolored fillings. Or it may be something not as readily discernable. Something does not look quite right.

That "something" may be related to the teeth and gum architecture. The position of the gums where they meet is esthetically important. If the teeth look too short, there may be more gum tissue covering them that is considered attractive. You may show too much gum tissue when you smile. There may be a differnce in height of the gum of one tooth versus an adjacent tooth or its partner on the other side of the mouth. This could be caused by recession from brushing too hard; gum disease; poor or defective restorations, especially crowns; or just a problem with the way the tooth erupted into place. All of these things can detract from your appearance.

Several different simple periodontal procedures can correct most of these routine problems. Some involve removal of unwanted tissue; some involve grafting of tissue. Orthodontics might be helpful in some cases. The more extensive procedures will require referral to specialists.

In one common type of cosmetic periodontal plastic surgery, the gum tissue is reshaped and recontoured without the use of sutures (stitches). This procedure is done in the  dental office. One tooth or several teeth may benefit from treatment. Postoperative discomfort is usually minimal. There may be tarnsient sensitivity of the teeth if tissue is removed. The improvement generated by this type of procedure can be startling.

We will show you and describe in detail how you can benefit from cosmetic peridontal procedures. In many cases, the cosmetic periodontal surgery will complete the treatmetn you need. In some cases, it will be part of a larger treatment plan including crowns, veneers, or bonded restorations.

If you have any questions about cosmetic electric periodontal plastic surgery, please feel free to ask us.