Life is busy, would you agree? Dental visits can take a backseat to seemingly more important tasks. Too many skipped dental visits, however, can lead to a need for fillings, tooth crowns, root canal therapy, or even worse, tooth loss leading to the need for a bridge or dental implants. Considering the time and expense of these procedures, attending your six-month checkups and cleanings is a wise choice. 

How much do you know about dental care, restoration, and replacement? 

This quiz will not only inform you, but Dr. Lee’s answers may surprise you. Let’s jump in. 

Fillings 

Q: How long should a quality, tooth-colored dental filling last?

A: A white, composite dental filling should last between five and seven years.

Q: What could happen to my filled tooth if I don’t replace the filling?

A: Over time, the bond (seal) between the filling and tooth can erode, allowing bacteria to enter the tooth and create a new cavity beneath the filling.

Tooth Crowns

Q: If my cavity is too big for a filling to repair, do I need a crown?

A: Dr. Lee offers full crowns, as well as inlays and onlays, which are also known as ¾ tooth crowns. Inlays and onlays are restorations made in a dental lab, but unlike a crown, they don’t cover the entire top and sides of a tooth. Instead, an inlay can repair a cavity within the surface cusps (bumps) of a tooth, and an onlay can cover a cusp and the side of a tooth.

Q: Can tooth crowns be whitened?

A: No. Dental restorations like fillings and crowns, as well as bridges, do not respond to teeth whitening of any kind. If you need a brighter crown, it will need to be replaced.

Q: Can a crown get a cavity?

A: No. However, if the seal between the tooth and crown fails, bacteria can enter and cause cavities beneath the crown. The longevity of a ceramic or porcelain dental crown is approximately 6-14 years, though they can last longer. A metal crown can last 10-30 years, and a zirconia tooth crown may endure for 10-15 years.

Root Canal Therapy

Q: Does root canal therapy hurt?

A: Pain probably drives your desire to find out what’s wrong in your mouth. A tooth with internal infection, meaning bacteria within the tooth’s core, can become intensely painful as pressure builds against the tooth’s nerve. Root canal therapy relieves the pain. We remove the bacteria and tissues from within the tooth’s core and replace it with gutta-percha, a manmade substance. The tooth’s nerve is removed, but lingering pain after root canal therapy can last for a few days or a week as the area heals and homeostasis is restored. 

Furthermore, we administer anesthetic during the procedure, so it shouldn’t be a painful experience. If you’re concerned that anesthetic will be insufficient, ask Dr. Lee about sedation dentistry. With nitrous oxide or conscious sedation, you may remember little if any of the procedure.

Bridges

Q: Can food particles get lodged beneath a dental bridge?

A: Yes! We aim to provide a great fit with our dental bridges so that little or no space exists beneath them. However, small food particles like popcorn hulls and poppy seeds may become trapped under a bridge. Interdental brushes, threaded flossers, and water flossers can clean below a bridge. If you have a dental bridge, consider purchasing one of these tools so that it’s on hand when needed.

Dental Implants

Q: How many dental implants can secure a denture?

A: When we talk about replacing teeth with implants, one implant is not necessary to replace every tooth. A full denture can rest on four to six dental implants placed strategically in the jaw for optimal strength and support. The denture then snaps onto the implants, so it cannot move or fall out.

Q: Do dental implants last forever?

A: Yes. The implant posts can last for the rest of your life, regardless of whether the implants hold a single tooth, a bridge, or a full denture. The restoration–the tooth crown, bridge, or denture–will need periodic replacement when the teeth become worn or damaged.

Tooth Restorations to Implants: Dr. Lee Does It All

How did you do? Did any of the answers surprise you?

If you need a dentist for six-month checkups and cleanings, or you’re suffering from a toothache, call Smiles for Grant Park in Atlanta. Dr. Abby Lee performs a wide range of dental procedures and offers sedation dentistry to ensure patient comfort. Schedule by calling 404.328.7177 today!