Dental Restorations Need to Be Checked by Your Dentist

If you have been ignoring that pain that seems to be coming from an existing filling, you need to schedule an appointment with your dentist.

Most people have no idea that old and new tooth colored resin fillings and silver amalgam fillings will not last forever, and if you are continually bragging about your 15-year-old fillings, you could be asking for trouble.

According to the American Dental Associations Mouth Healthy website, tooth colored fillings, or composite fillings are resistant to breaks and fractures, but are not as strong as silver amalgam fillings. Composite fillings are also more expensive than silver amalgam fillings and are sometimes not covered by your dental insurance plan. Recent studies indicate that composite or tooth colored resin fillings are less durable than amalgam fillings and will need to be replaced more frequently.

Of course, the only way to tell if you have decay under your existing fillings, crowns or other dental restorations is to schedule an appointment with your dentist. Unfortunately, not all tooth decay is painful, and you could be dealing with additional cavities under or around your fillings. If you do not take care of the issue, other problems could occur including infection and the need for root canal therapy.

If you have tooth colored fillings that are visible when you smile, you may need to have them replaced because of cosmetic reasons as tooth colored fillings can become stained or discolored.

When you age, your teeth could change. If this happens, you may need to replace your dental restorations in order to save your natural teeth or improve your bite. The old amalgam or tooth colored filling may be past its use by date. If this occurs, you are putting the rest of the tooth in danger.

Your dentist explains that a dental filling, whether it is an amalgam or composite filling, is not used to cure the tooth decay. Fillings are only placed to remove the damage caused by acid attack.

Old fillings are certainly nothing to boast about, and should be checked out twice a year by your dentist, even more so if you suspect a problem with a filling or dental crown.

Schedule an appointment with your dentist today and have those fillings checked out. Doing so may mean the difference between a simple filling replacement and a costly dental restoration.

Cross off Your New Years Resolution List with a Check Up in Fountain Valley

Your Fountain Valley Dentist Dr. Peter Hagen and his staff are just as guilty as you are of over-indulging during the holidays. Tighter fitting skirts and jeans that will not zip are just a couple signs that you may have had too much Christmas cheer. You may think that your New Year’s resolutions, which include weight loss and exercise, are complete, but if you are really trying to take a positive approach to your mind, body and spirit connection in 2014 you need to include oral health on your New Year’s resolution list as well.

  

Tooth decay can happen, even if you brush twice and floss once a day. Eating and drinking too much over the holidays has probably done some damage to your teeth and gums as well. The only way to be sure is to sit down with your OC Dentist for a complete check-up.

Dr. Hagen with examine your teeth and look for any signs of tooth decay. If cavities are present, your Dentist in Orange County will take care of the damage and look for any other restorations that need to be dealt with. Dr. Hagen may even recommend Cosmetic Dentistry treatments to improve your smile.

The best way to start the New Year is with a healthy grin. After your check-up, you and Dr. Hagen can discuss the next step towards a healthier smile, whether that means whitening, filling replacements, crowns, bridges, veneers or implants.

It’s January 1^st and that means the start of a new year. Pick up the phone or go online and make an appointment with your Dentist in Fountain Valley today for General Dentistry or Cosmetic Dental Procedures. 

Your Fountain Valley Dentist Can Remove your Amalgam Fillings

For more than 150 years, dentists have been using silver amalgam fillings unbeknownst to them that these same fillings could be wrecking havoc with their patient’s health.

Back in the 1980’s, the American Dental Association claimed that the mercury that was used in silver amalgam fillings was perfectly safe and could never leak, but new research has shown that that is not entirely true. A recent episode of the Dr. Oz show featured experts on the subject who say that mercury can leak out of your silver amalgam fillings causing health problems such as excessive tiredness, anxiety, mood swings, migraine headaches, and even autoimmune disorders. Some dental experts claim that silver amalgam fillings can lead to Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and even multiple sclerosis.

Other issues that can happen with silver amalgam fillings include tooth structure weakening. Over the years, your silver amalgam fillings can wear down and actually break causing your entire tooth to become weak making it a breeding ground for tooth decay.

According to your Dentist in Fountain Valley, every silver filling in your mouth contains 50 percent mercury. Silver amalgam fillings are made out of silver, other metals, and of course mercury. Why mercury? Because it actually binds the metals together.

There are certainly some who would debate the topic claiming that silver amalgam fillings are perfectly safe. The American Dental Association continues to support the belief that silver amalgam fillings do not cause health issues, but if you are having second thoughts about your silver amalgam fillings and suffer from any of the issues listed above, you may want to schedule an appointment with your Orange County Dentist who will be able to assess your situation.

Of course, even if you don’t believe the hype about silver amalgam fillings, there is still the issue of cosmetics. Silver fillings will turn gray and sometimes black over the years, and if you want to maintain a white and healthy looking smile, schedule an appointment with Dr. Peter Hagen who can replace your old silver amalgam fillings with tooth colored restorations.