Just as your teeth wear down over time, your dental restorations can likewise start to degrade with age. But how do you know that it’s time to replace your crowns or fillings? Our Santa Monica dentists explain…
Sensitivity & Pain
If you start experiencing sensitivity around your restored tooth, this could be a sign that your crown or filling isn’t doing its job. Dental restorations aren’t purely aesthetic—they also need to be able to protect vulnerable tooth layers from bacteria and irritants.
Poor Bite Alignment
We put our dental restorations through a lot, and over time they will start to degrade and wear down. You may notice, as a result, that your top and bottom teeth are no longer coming together naturally and evenly. You may even be able to see your natural teeth shift along your gum line. Without prompt restorative care you can develop additional dental damage as well as TMJ problems.
Discoloration
In some cases patients are able to see signs of restoration failure. Old mercury fillings, for example, tend to make teeth look gray, dark, or metallic over time. If your porcelain restoration or composite filling is damaged, you could see dental debris and plaque accumulate in those spots where your restoration and natural tooth meet.
Please do not wait to upgrade your dental restorations if you notice a problem. Living with a compromised crown or filling can actually cause additional damage. As always, our Santa Monica dentists are here to answer your questions—just give us a call!