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.

Bonding and Fillings

Chipping or breaking a tooth can be very painful. It leaves the tooth misshapen or with a sharpened edge that could hurt the inside of your mouth. Dental bonding and fillings assist in rebuilding the affected tooth with special materials. Suzanne Haeri DDS in Los Angeles, CA, is proud to offer both of these procedures to her patients. Dr. Haeri is committed to helping fix your smile when unexpected chips and breaks occur!

 

Dental bonding restores the natural shape of your tooth by using composite resin matched to your specific tooth color. In cases of accidental damage or minor decay, it is an inexpensive way to restore the look of the tooth to its normal healthy self. Dental bonding can also be used for protecting the roots of your teeth. Receding gums that expose the tooth root allow bacteria in easily, making them more susceptible to infection.

 

Dental fillings focus more on restorative efforts rather than cosmetic ones since they are stronger and more durable than dental bonding. This method also has a low cost but is the better option over dental bonding in the long run. Whereas dental bonding fixes the outside of the tooth, dental fillings fix the inside of a tooth that has been damaged from decay or breakage. For back teeth, it’s better to use metal fillings so that it can better withstand the force of chewing. 

 

Have you chipped or broken a tooth? We will assess the damage and come up with a treatment plan. 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.

 

Dental Instruments

There are some pretty cool instruments in a dental office. There are also some that people may be uncomfortable with. In order to help our patients’ cleanings go smoothly, we at Dr. Suzanne Haeri’s office wanted to explain what some of the most frequently used ones are for.

The two instruments patients will see us use the most are the handheld mirror and the explorer. Also known as a probe, explorers are hooked instruments that are used to assess the hardness of enamel and to break up small bits of tartar. There are many differently shaped hooks for reaching different surfaces of different teeth. Some, called scalers, are used to remove tartar from gum pockets after they’ve been probed to check for infection.

We also commonly use instruments that are for constructing and placing fillings. A drill is used to remove infected tooth enamel after the patient has been numbed. White composite filling material can then be mixed on a small spatula and applied with a burnisher, which is a blunt instrument used to contour fillings. If a tooth is broken or needs to be extracted for any other reason, we can loosen it with an elevator, which is shaped like a small, narrow spoon, before pulling it with forceps.

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.

 

Reasons for Filling Failure

Since we make a particular point of helping patients maintain their cosmetic care, we at Dr. Suzanne Haeri’s South Carthay dental office have followed developments in new technology for fillings. Some recently published research will help us to better understand why fillings fail and what technology provides superior results.

The new research examined smokers of both sexes and found that they had a much higher chance of early filling failure than non-smokers. It also found that men who drank alcohol had a higher risk of filling failure than those who did not. Another risk factor that was somewhat surprising was that filling failure tends to run in families, suggesting a genetic component. For these patients, regular dental check-ups are especially important.

The study’s most encouraging finding was that white fillings work just as well as amalgam ones. Unlike the old silver and mercury fillings, white fillings blend in with the patient’s teeth and avoid the issue of discomfort from temperature which sometimes occurs with metal. At Dr. Haeri’s office, we’ll work with you to ensure that your teeth are the shade you want them and that your fillings will be well-kept and aesthetically pleasing.

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.

 

Filling Senstivity

Although tooth decay is a major problem, Dr. Suzanne Haeri offers natural-colored fillings at her dental office to repair the health and appearance of her patients’ smiles. But while removing decayed material can make teeth sensitive, fillings should not continue to be painful days or years after their placement. If they are, patients should come in to learn what is wrong.

It is possible for a filling to be made poorly and not completely fill the cavity or prevent the patient from biting down comfortably. The former can happen if the filling was constructed from material that changes shape after placement. The gap between it and the seal holding it to the tooth would become a place where bacteria could hide and continue causing decay.

Most fillings are made well enough for this not to happen, but even well-made fillings have limited lifespans, or at least, the seals do. After about ten years, the seal will start breaking down, which may loosen the filling in addition to opening the door to bacterial infection. It is important for the filling to be replaced before the patient suffers worse decay.

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 SuzanneHaeriDDS.com and fill out a request.