Permanent fillings
Have you ever looked into a mirror after your teeth have been beautifully restored only to think, "I wish the fillings would last forever?" Well, we dentists would too! In fact, dental researchers are hard at work on developing an ideal filling material that is tooth-coloured and won't wear or break.
"Permanent fillings" is one of the most treacherous misnomers ever to creep into dental jargon. Despite great efforts to develop a permanent restorative material, the fact remains that none exists. Understanding this initially can head off disappointment in the future when restorations have to be repaired or replaced. Evaluation of restorative performance will vary with both the dentist and the patient.
Most restorations remain in the mouth long after they begin to fail. It is often impossible for the patient to recognize failure when it occurs. When they do become apparent, signs of loss of tooth contour from wear, discolouration and other minor problems are often grudgingly accepted by people as inevitable. Replace your worn out restorations before they become the source of new problems. Ask your dentist at each checkup if anything needs replacing.
"Permanent fillings" is one of the most treacherous misnomers ever to creep into dental jargon. Despite great efforts to develop a permanent restorative material, the fact remains that none exists. Understanding this initially can head off disappointment in the future when restorations have to be repaired or replaced. Evaluation of restorative performance will vary with both the dentist and the patient.
Most restorations remain in the mouth long after they begin to fail. It is often impossible for the patient to recognize failure when it occurs. When they do become apparent, signs of loss of tooth contour from wear, discolouration and other minor problems are often grudgingly accepted by people as inevitable. Replace your worn out restorations before they become the source of new problems. Ask your dentist at each checkup if anything needs replacing.
