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.

Gum Disease and Impacted Teeth

An impacted tooth isn’t just an uncomfortable cosmetic issue; it’s a potential threat to a patient’s oral health. At the South Carthay dental office of Dr. Suzanne Haeri, we offer a full suite of general and cosmetic dental services for each of our patients’ individual needs. An impacted tooth is one situation in which a tooth extraction might be warranted, so we want our patients to understand its seriousness and their full range of options.

 

We use the term “impacted” to describe a tooth that is unable to fully emerge from the gum. This can happen to any tooth, but since wisdom teeth are the largest and last to erupt, it’s most likely to happen to them. When a wisdom tooth only partly erupts, a large section of it will remain covered by a flap of gum tissue called an operculum. Food debris will get caught under the operculum, where a patient will have difficulty dislodging it. There, bacteria will feed on it, causing inflammation around the partly-erupted dental crown, which is a condition we call “pericoronitis.” The patient will experience soreness and swelling, and since the infection will not get better on its own, there’s a risk it will spread.

 

An operculum can be cleaned by a dental hygienist, and we encourage patients not to wait to get this done. But as long as the operculum remains, more food can get stuck under it. One solution would be to cut the operculum away, but this would not fix any other problems the impacted tooth is causing, such as bite difficulties. Although we don’t take tooth extraction lightly, it is a common, efficient process, and one that will allow a patient to quickly resume chewing normally with much less discomfort.

 

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.

 

Sensitive Teeth

Your teeth shouldn’t just look great; they should feel great, too! That’s our belief at the South Carthay office of Dr. Suzanne Haeri. Many people who suffer from sharp toothaches when they bite into something cold believe that this is normal. In fact, it could be a sign of a problem with their enamel. To understand why, it is necessary to know the tooth’s internal anatomy.

Dental pulp contains a highly sensitive nerve. It is surrounded by dentin, which is a porous substance that easily conducts heat. Enamel, a hard substance comprised of calcium and phosphate ions, makes up the crown of the tooth and insulates the underlying dentin. Cementum, a sticky substance, makes up the outer layer of the tooth root and is much thinner.

Dentin is yellow-brown in color and can be seen through enamel when enamel is thin. Although people with bruxism may grind down their enamel, loss of it is usually due to acid. Drinks such as soda and citrus juice contain high amounts of acid and people with acid reflux often have sensitivity on their upper back teeth. But most enamel loss, as well as most gum recession around sensitive tooth roots, is due to oral bacteria. Patients will need to brush more thoroughly (not necessarily harder) to rid themselves of acid and decay-causing bacteria, but we can help them by providing deep cleanings and examining them for signs of decay.

Suzanne Haeri, DDS, is located at 1100 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90035. To set up an appointment, call 310-657-2200 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.

 

Causes of Tooth Sensitivity in Children

There are several things which can cause tooth sensitivity, and when caring for child patients, there are a few particular factors to keep in mind. Sometimes, healthy new teeth will be sensitive immediately after breaking through the gum line, but tooth pain could indicate a bigger problem.

Usually, when children get tooth aches, it is because they have cavities (which are also known as caries). In most cases, this problem can be fixed with more disciplined oral hygiene, but it is possible for children to brush too hard and damage their gum tissue. Tooth roots are naturally sensitive, so if gum tissue recession exposes them, the patient will find cold drinks and food painful.

It is also possible for tooth aches to be an early warning sign of diabetes or of bruxism. People who clench or grind their jaws not only damage their teeth, but develop head, ear, and neck aches. Sinus infections can also cause tooth aches in the upper back teeth. These kinds of aches tend to be dull and throbbing, so it is important to get the child to be as descriptive as possible when making a diagnosis.

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.