Loose Fillings

As both a general and cosmetic dental office, we at the South Carthay practice of Dr. Suzanne Haeri are pleased to offer stable, naturally-colored fillings. Unlike the silver amalgam of old, modern fillings are indistinguishable from healthy enamel and won’t trigger a patient’s allergy to metal. But although fillings can stay in place for years, the seal holding them in place does eventually break down. We hope you keep up with regular dental appointments so you can get yours repaired before they become a problem, but since fillings can come loose prematurely, we want our patients to recognize them and seek treatment.

 

After decayed enamel is drilled away, a filling is made by sealing a bit of porcelain or resin into the hole. As the seal breaks down, saliva will get trapped in the cracks, causing the filling to seem to leak. Unfortunately, the same spaces can be occupied by bacteria, where they are safe from the patient’s brushing and can resume causing decay. As the seal continues to break, the filling may come loose and start causing the patient pain and difficulty biting down. If yours has reached this point, don’t hesitate to schedule an emergency appointment. In the meantime, you may be able to reduce your discomfort by applying a topical numbing gel.

 

Once we’ve removed a loose filling, we’ll be able to drill away further decay, if necessary. From there, providing a new filling is usually a simple matter as long as the patient is satisfied with the color of the rest of the dental crown. We shape fillings with tools called burnishers to ensure they won’t get in the way of the patient closing their teeth together. Fillings require the same daily hygiene as normal teeth and they’re a bit more fragile than natural enamel, so patients will have to be especially careful to avoid chewing on ice or anything else extremely hard. But when cared for properly, fillings can last for over a decade.

 

The dental office of Suzanne Haeri, DDS, is located at 1100 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, California, 90035. To schedule an appointment, call 310-657-2200 or visit our website at Suzanne Haeri DDS.

Dental Emergencies

Whether it’s around the house or while you’re playing a sport, things happen sometimes that require you to see your dentist for a dental emergency. Suzanne Haeri DDS in Los Angeles, CA will always offer a helping hand when disaster strikes your teeth! It’s important that you get in contact with our office as soon as possible so that we can get your dental emergency taken care of.

Here are a few scenarios that Dr. Haeri can help you with: 

-Lost crown: try to locate the crown, seeing if it will fit back on to the tooth. If not, use some over-the-counter denture cement to hold it in place and then contact us straight away!

-Dislocated tooth: if your tooth is only partially knocked out, clean the area and keep the swelling down. Over-the-counter pain relievers can help with that. And don’t touch the tooth at all! 

-Missing filling: similar to a lost crown, contact us right away. The earlier you alert us the quicker we can create a replacement. 

-Knocked-out tooth: find the tooth and clean it properly. See if it will fit back into its allotted space. Otherwise, place it in some cold milk or salt-water. 

-Broken or chipped tooth: rinse your mouth while saving as many fragments as possible. Apply ice packs in a fifteen minute cycle to reduce swelling. 

-Unexplained toothache: try cleaning your mouth vigorously. This removes any debris pressed up against or stuck between your teeth. Give us a call if this doesn’t help. 

There are a few other scenarios that aren’t true emergencies that we also treat, like toothaches, a cut tongue or lip, abscessed tooth, or swollen cheeks, lips, and teeth. 

Do you have a question about dental emergencies? We are happy to address any concerns that may come up. Suzanne Haeri DDS practices at 1100 S La Cienega Blvd. in Los Angeles, CA 90035. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit suzannehaeridds.com or call 310-657-2200.

Cracked Teeth

As a dental practice that specializes in cosmetics, we at Dr. Suzanne Haeri’s South Carthay office have restored a lot of teeth with minor cracks and chips. But we also take good care of patients who have a more serious injury. We hope that our patients wear mouthguards when playing contact sports or doing anything dangerous, but if they do break a tooth, we can probably fix it.

Our molars are the only teeth that should be used for chewing. They have multiple roots and wide surfaces to distribute the force of a patient’s bite. The smaller teeth are vulnerable to breaking or tilting when they are repeatedly subjected to force. But even the molars can crack against something harder, such as ice. If a patient breaks a tooth, they should rinse their mouth with warm salt water. For their safety, they should cover the crack or chip with orthodontic wax or sugar-free gum.

We offer a vast array of restorative services. Small cracks in the surface of the front teeth can be covered with veneers, and minor chips may be repairable with bonding. If a molar is broken, we may fabricate a partial crown to fill in the crack or replace a missing cusp. But if a tooth is cracked down to the pulp, we may need to do a root canal procedure to protect against infection. When teeth are broken all the way down to the root, they need to be replaced. In those cases, we offer implants and partial dentures and will discuss a patient’s options after relieving their pain. We also offer Snap-On Smiles for patients who have widespread chipping and discoloration.

Suzanne Haeri, DDS, is located at 1100 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90035. To set up an appointment, call 310-647-2200 or visit Suzanne Haeri DDS and fill out a request.