Tag Archives: Eastlake Dentistry

What Can I Do If I Chipped A Tooth?

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Many people encounter chipped teeth more often than you think. Most patients do not even realize they have chipped a tooth until someone points out the irregular shape. Suppose you are out with your loved one on your Valentine’s Day date and you are sipping your drink along with some ice, you bite down on the ice cube and all of a sudden, crack! You feel that crunch was a little harder than you thought, and out of your mouth comes a fragment of one of your teeth. The first thing to do is to remain calm and call your dentist if possible. Fortunately, there are a few solutions to help resolve this issue. Today we will share with you some of the treatments available for your chipped tooth.

Crown and Bridge

The type of treatment your dentist uses for repair depends on the severity of damage caused from the accident. A crown and bridge is one of the treatments recommend for larger chips or broken teeth with extensive decay. The dentist will prepare your teeth by removing any remaining fragments and shaping the remainder of the tooth to receive the crown.

Dental Veneers

In the event that the chipped tooth occurred in the front teeth, most dentists prefer to use dental veneers. These devices are made of porcelain and they are bonded to the damaged tooth. It usually will cover the entire front portion of the tooth and will blend in well with your natural teeth.

Root Canal

For a cracked tooth patients may need to undergo a root canal, because this damaged the whole surface of the tooth all the way down to the nerve. In some instances, the cracked pieces remain in place but the crack gradually spreads. Cracks can be repaired with simple composite fillings, but if the damage disrupts the nerve tissue the patient may also need a root canal.

If you are not able to see a dentist right away, be sure to schedule an appointment for treatment at your earliest convenience to avoid chronic pain or more cracking. In the meantime here is what you can do to treat the site of the chipped tooth:

  • Rinse your mouth with salt water or mouthwash occasionally to keep area clean

  • Cover the crack with paraffin wax to avoid cutting your mouth

  • Chew only soft foods in other areas of the mouth

Always be aware of what you are eating or chewing on. If you chipped a tooth, at Eastlake Dentistry, Dr. Tin and her staff have a variety of solutions to correct your smile. Call now to schedule an appointment to have the professionals repair the damage, no matter how big or how small.

Dental Fillings for a Brilliant Smile

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When it comes to healthy teeth we can only hope that what we are doing is right for our teeth, but a diet of highly-processed foods and sugar are often the sources to blame for cavities and other teeth problems. Cavities are an infection caused by a combination of carbohydrate foods and bacterias in the mouth. The bacteria eats the carbohydrates and produce acid. This acid causes the PH to drop on the surface of teeth and dissolve the hard enamel slowly. The exposure to certain foods develop cavities that we do not want to live with and to resolve the growth of tooth decay, your dentist can treat cavities through fillings.

Tooth fillings are designed to restore a tooth damaged by decay back to its original shape. The dentist first removes the source of bacteria and decayed tooth material, then the cleaned out cavity is filled with a material suitable to close off the space. Depending on the space and location of the cavity the dentist and patient agree on the type of filling, which include amalgam (silver), gold or tooth-colored filling.

Amalgam is the most common material used in correction for dental decay. The filling looks silver in appearance and is resistant. Due to its dark color most dentists avoid use for visible areas in the front teeth.

Gold fillings are tolerated by gum tissues and may last up to 20 years for patients who take care of their teeth. Most dentists consider this as the best filling material.

The tooth colored fillings are made of composite plastic resins or porcelain material. Since the material is made to match the color of teeth they can be used to fill the front as well as the top surface of the tooth. Porcelain is also used in the same areas and provides the same natural effects when bonded to the tooth. Porcelain is resistant to staining and covers most of the affected tooth.

Many people consider the traditional methods of fillings to be outdated and feel the need to replace them with new porcelain or composite plastic fillings, but that is not necessary. According to Delta Dental, the availability of new materials for fillings does not eliminate the need for traditional dental materials. Amalgam and gold fillings are stronger and more durable. These materials restore teeth that withstand extreme forces of chewing and grinding, especially in the back of the mouth. The FDA does not recommend removing amalgam fillings from patients because they could cause harm to tooth structure and increase health risks.

Why is it Important to get Dental Fillings?

Regular dentist appointments should always be kept to maintain the function of teeth. Only a dentist can determine if a patient has a cavity that needs filling. When these cavities are left untreated they make teeth more sensitive to cold and heat, causing pain in the affected teeth, and are vulnerable to decay.

People need to treat cavities before they become bigger. Filling the cavity will help restore strength of the tooth before it starts to damage the entire tooth and neighboring teeth. Addressing the cavity early will help to fight against tooth decay from spreading and becoming worse. Reasons why people need to get fillings include:

  • Cavities

  • Tooth fractures

  • Slow loss of tooth structure

  • Tooth Discoloration

  • Filling replacement

How to prevent from cavities:

The best type of filling, is no filling at all. There are a number of ways to abstain from cavities. Brushing to remove plaque is the best way to avoid cavities, but there are other ways to avoid them including:

  • Brushing three times a day with fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash

  • Floss daily

  • Eat a balanced diet

  • Visit a dentist regularly

  • Reduce sugary foods and beverages

  • Chew sugarless gum to avoid dry mouth

  • Drink lots of water

To find out which teeth need fillings or if it has been longer than a year since your last check up, visit Eastlake Dentistry in San Diego. Dr. San Tin can settle all of your doubts about fillings and treat tooth decay before it becomes worse. Keep your teeth strong and healthy for good, book your appointment for dental fillings today.