A small cavity and a badly damaged tooth can both need repair, but they usually don’t need the same kind of dental work. The most appropriate choice depends on how much healthy structure remains, where the tooth is located, and how much chewing pressure it must withstand.

For current patients in Mount Pleasant, MI, Dr. Kenneth Egger, DDS, treats damaged and decayed teeth with options such as dental crowns and tooth-colored fillings. Dr. Egger graduated from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in 1994, received the Raymond Hayes award in undergraduate endodontics, and has practiced in Mount Pleasant since 1996.

When a Filling May Be Enough

A dental filling is often used when decay has affected a smaller area. After the decayed portion is removed, the space is filled to restore the tooth’s shape and reduce the risk of future problems.

Tooth-colored fillings are made of composite resin and blend with the surrounding tooth. They are often used for small to mid-size repairs, especially when enough healthy tooth remains to support the restoration.

A filling might be considered when:

• The cavity is small or moderate in size
• The tooth is not cracked or structurally weak
• The tooth can support it without too much chewing pressure on the repaired area
• The goal is to repair decay while preserving healthy enamel

When a Crown May Be the Better Choice

A crown covers the tooth down to the gumline. Because it surrounds the visible portion, it can add strength when a filling would not be enough.

Dr. Egger may discuss a crown for a tooth that is deeply cracked, badly worn, fractured, weakened by a large cavity, or being restored after root canal treatment. Crowns can be made from metal, porcelain, porcelain-fused-to-metal, or all-ceramic.

Why the Difference Matters

Choosing between a filling and a crown is partly about durability. A filling repairs a section of the tooth, but a crown protects more of the surface. Putting a filling in a tooth that needs more support might leave it vulnerable to breaking later. On the other hand, a crown may not be necessary for a small cavity with a strong surrounding structure.

Discuss Your Restorative Options Today

A careful exam can help you understand what your tooth needs now and in the future. Current patients in Mount Pleasant, MI, can contact us or call 989-773-3560 to discuss restorative care with Dr. Kenneth Egger.

Cavity fillings are a reliable solution for restoring the integrity of compromised teeth. However, there is always the chance that a cavity filling may fail. In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at why cavity fillings fail and what happens when they do. We’ll also address preventative measures against cavity filling failures.

Why Do Cavity Fillings Fail?

Several issues can lead to cavity filling failure. These include everything from decay around the filling to wear and tear over time.

Other potential causes of cavity filling failure include poor bonding, cracks in the tooth, and inadequate oral hygiene practices. Additionally, larger fillings are more susceptible to failure.

What Happens When Cavity Fillings Fail?

When a cavity filling fails, you may initially notice pain and sensitivity because the inner layers of the tooth are now exposed to external stimuli. In particular, hot and cold foods and beverages can lead to discomfort.

Other signs of a failing filling include loose, damaged, or missing teeth at the filling site.

If left untreated, a failed cavity filling can lead to decay progression, infection, and abscess formation, and compromised tooth structure.

In some cases, a failed filling may also lead to aesthetic concerns such as discoloration, gaps, and changes in tooth shape — especially if the failed filling is in a visible part of the mouth.

These complications can be prevented by pursuing prompt dental care. After assessing your situation, your dentist may replace the filling or place a dental crown to correct the issue.

Preventing Cavity Filling Failures

Certain proactive practices can help prevent filling failures, including the following:

• Routine dental checkups
• Good oral hygiene practices
• Avoiding excessive force while chewing, including chewing ice and hard foods
• Refraining from grinding and clenching teeth

Despite your best efforts, cavity fillings may still fail. That’s why it’s important to have a relationship with an experienced dentist like Kenneth Egger, DDS in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

Schedule a Consultation with Dr. Kenneth Egger to Safeguard Your Smile

Regular checkups can play an invaluable role in prolonging the lifespan of your dental fillings. If your filling does fail, prompt dental care can get you back on the road to optimal oral health.

To discuss your cavity filling failure or another dental issue with Dr. Egger and our team, please call 989-773-3560 or fill out an online form to schedule a consultation.

Dr. Kenneth Egger of Mount Pleasant, MI is a general and family dentist in the community who focuses on ensuring dental work is not only in the best interests of the patient but is also biocompatible with the smile and aesthetic. In the past, many patients went to the dentist and obtained silver amalgam fillings which are dark and highly noticeable on the natural teeth. However, composite resin fillings are tooth-colored and the more desirable choice for patients nowadays. Now is a great time to learn more about these aesthetic fillings and how they are the best choice for patients who need to address cavities within the smile–and why silver amalgam fillings, still used today, can be problematic for your health!

Why choose tooth-colored composite resin fillings for cavities?

Tooth-colored composite resin fillings are a popular choice for treating cavities. They can be matched to the color of your natural teeth and are less likely to cause staining or discoloration. Composite resin fillings are also strong and durable, making them a good choice for restoring teeth. These affordable and effective solutions are often selected by patients, especially those who are aware of the downfalls of traditional silver amalgam fillings.

Why are silver amalgam fillings bad for the smile?

Silver amalgam fillings are made of a mixture of mercury and other metals. While they are long-lasting and affordable, they can cause staining and discoloration of the teeth over time. Additionally, silver amalgam fillings can release toxins that can be harmful to your oral health. For these reasons, many patients are now choosing tooth-colored composite resin fillings as a safer and more aesthetically pleasing option.

Find out more about the advantages of tooth-colored fillings

If you are considering dental treatment for cavities, tooth-colored composite resin fillings may be the best choice for you. These fillings are strong, durable, and look natural – making them a great alternative to traditional silver amalgam fillings. To learn more about this material and dental fillings, call Dr. Kenneth Egger and his team in Mount Pleasant, MI. The practice is located at 900 East Bellows Street and can be reached by phone at (989) 773-3560.

At the holidays, there’s always something you’d like to see go away. Maybe it’s that frozen slush on Bellows Street. Maybe it’s the holiday crowds at The Brass. Maybe it’s that uncle from Cheboygan who has come to visit for “a couple days.” 

Or this year, you could make those silver spots on your molars go away. You could come see Dr. Egger and have him replace an old silver amalgam filling or two with composite resin, which is invisible when in your tooth. Goodbye, silver fillings! 

It was always easy to spot when a person had a filling up until about a decade ago — all you had to do was look for the silver in their molars. That silver is silver amalgam, the standard filling of choice since the 1800s. 

But there are a few problems with amalgam fillings, so there has been a move to make stronger and stronger composite resin that closely matches the color of the natural tooth. It’s virtually impossible to spot a composite filling. Composite resin is the filling material of choice for Dr. Egger. 

What’s the deal with silver amalgam? 

Silver amalgam is nothing near, to say the least! It’s been used for dental fillings for around 150 years. Hundreds of millions of teeth have had amalgam fillings placed in them. 

What most people don’t know, however, is that dental amalgam is a mixture of metals consisting of liquid mercury and a powdered alloy comprised of silver, tin, and copper. OK, who wants to have a mine’s worth of metals in their mouth? 

Amalgam fillings are very strong, but here are the problems with them: 

•     They are unsightly. When you open your mouth everyone can see exactly how many amalgam fillings you have.
•     They require more of the healthy tooth to be removed. Silver amalgam isn’t bonded onto the tooth; it is packed in. To adequately anchor the filling more of the healthy tooth (in addition to the decayed portion) needs to be removed and a ridged surface is created to hold the amalgam.
•     No one wants mercury in his or her mouth. While they’ve been deemed safe, people are less and less interested in having a combination of metals, particularly mercury, in their mouth.
•     Amalgam fillings can crack teeth. Because the metals expand and contract with hot and cold, amalgam fillings can cause the tooth to crack.

Composite fillings to the rescue 

Dr. Egger still places some amalgam fillings, particularly if the patient insists, but he prefers composite resin. Composite resin is a combination of powdered glass and acrylic resin. Formerly, the problem with composite resin has been that it hasn’t been as durable as amalgam or gold. But technology has continually improved to where composite resin today is just about as durable as amalgam. 

Here are the advantages of composite fillings: 

•     Composite fillings match the color or your tooth enamel, so they blend perfectly and cannot be seen.
•     Composite is metal- and mercury-free.
•     The filling is bonded to the tooth, which actually pulls inward on the tooth’s periphery, making the tooth stronger.
•     Tooth-colored fillings require less healthy tooth tissue to be removed.

The next time you need a filling (or need to have an old amalgam filling replaced), odds are it will be a composite filling. And no one will know your tooth is filled at all. 

Give your mouth the gift of no more silver. Call Dr. Egger at (989) 773-3560 to make your appointment.

If you’re over the age of 40, it’s unlikely you made it through childhood without having at least a couple cavities and their corresponding silver amalgam fillings. Want proof? Over 90 percent of adults over 40 have at least one filling in a permanent tooth.

But most of us think that was it — surely adults don’t get cavities. Those are the domain of kids and their developing teeth. With our bulletproof adult enamel, we don’t worry about cavities, right?

Wrong. Adults can still get cavities, but the causes are typically different than when kids get them.

What causes cavities in adult teeth?

There are two main culprits behind adult cavity development.

• Receding gums — Whether due to gum disease or overly vigorous tooth brushing, your gum tissue can become swollen and begin to pull upwards off your tooth roots just a bit. This recession exposes those roots. Unlike the surfaces above the gum line, roots are not protected by enamel. Instead, they are covered by a softer material known as “cementum.” Enamel is great at fighting decay; cementum, not so much. This makes exposed tooth roots more susceptible to plaque and decay.

We’ve talked about periodontal disease in this blog often. It’s not that we want to beat our patients over the head with it, but gum disease is unfortunate because it is almost always preventable. All it takes is good home oral hygiene and keeping your twice-yearly visits with Dr. Egger for professional cleanings and exams. We spot some early gum irritation and alert you to it before it becomes any big deal. Receding gums would be one of those telltale signs, and if we spot it we can help you reverse it. This works to avoid both gum disease and cavities developing in the tooth root.

• Failed fillings — Since virtually all adults have at least one or two fillings, this is the second source of adult cavities. That’s because existing fillings don’t last forever. As a filling weakens over time, it tends to fracture and the seal between the filling material (usually silver amalgam) and the tooth loosens. This opens the door for bacteria to accumulate in the cracks and crevices. When these bacteria ingest food particles and sugars left in your mouth after eating, they secrete acid. When they do so in the space under a loose filling, that will lead to new decay in the tooth.

As with gum disease, this decay is usually preventable. The key is good home hygiene coupled with seeing us twice each year. When we are examining your teeth, we test all of your existing cavities. That’s why Dr. Egger pushes and prods your fillings when you are her: he’s testing the filling to see if the bond is still strong. If it feels loose, we can replace the filling and avoid new damage from decay. But if we don’t see you that decay can make its way down into the interior of the tooth. Now you’re entering the realm of real pain, as the bacteria begins to come in contact with nerves in the interior the tooth. And you’ll need a root canal to save the tooth. Uh oh.

So, now that we’ve thankfully put the awful year of 2020 behind us, let’s not bring any new adult cavities into the New Year. Call Dr. Egger at (989) 773-3560 to schedule your next regular cleaning and exam.

Caries.

Doesn’t that sound like a term for something that had been left for dead out in the desert in an old spaghetti western? Or maybe a term from a Michigan State volleyball game.

You may actually know that word by another term, cavity. Caries is the clinical dental term for decay in a tooth. Who knows why it sounds like a plural! Caries is the most common form of oral disease known to man.

When you call them cavities, that’s not really accurate. When decay gets into a tooth, the decayed portion needs to be removed to stop the tooth degradation. What is left after the decay is removed is a cavity. That’s probably where the term originated. But the cavity/space now needs to be filled.

Wait for it…

Filling. Ah, so that’s where that term comes from.

Dr. Egger removes dental caries and fills those teeth every day. More and more, he is doing it with composite resin fillings. These are commonly known as tooth-colored fillings. Here’s why we’re using less and less of those old silver fillings you’ve known forever at Dr. Egger’s.

Mercury in your mouth

Most people think the silver fillings in their molars are, well, made of silver. Actually, they’re not silver; they consist of mostly mercury! More and more people now believe mercury belongs under the dirt in an abandoned auto plant in Flint, not their mouths! Silver fillings are made of silver amalgam. To make them, dentists mix mercury (50% of the eventual filling) with a powder comprised of silver, copper, tin, or zinc (usually a combination of some or all of those). There really isn’t any potential for harm from the mercury in your amalgam fillings. They’ve been studied by the FDA and they’ve been used since the 1800s. Still, some people don’t like the idea of being like a fish at the bottom of Lake Erie.

Disadvantages of amalgam fillings

Of course, silver amalgam fillings aren’t exactly aesthetically pleasing. Open your mouth and everyone can usually see just how many fillings you have in your molars. Amalgam fillings have other drawbacks, as well. The edges of the filling can wear down, become weak, or break. This creates an environment where decay can take hold again. Also, with age the mercury, silver, and other metals in amalgam fillings expand and contract. This can make the filling split, or it can even crack a tooth. Plus, they can corrode, leak, and stain your adjacent teeth and your gums.

Tooth-colored restorations

That’s why Dr. Egger is placing more and more composite resin fillings at his Mount Pleasant practice. The resin is made of a mixture of plastic and glass and it is bonded to the teeth in layers, making them structurally strong. Plus they create a tight, superior fit to the tooth. And, unlike amalgam fillings, where a part of the healthy tooth needs to be removed to make room for the filling, Resin composite fillings can be placed into teeth that have lost much of their tooth structure.

The problem with resin fillings has always been durability. They just haven’t been as durable as silver amalgam. But that has been changing rapidly. Each year, technological improvements have been making composite resin stronger and more durable. It now is very close to the durability of amalgam.

Have a tooth that seems to becoming more and more sensitive? Call Dr. Egger at (989) 773-3560 because that tooth may need a filling.

Caries Aren’t for Michigan Stadium

If you’re over 60, you probably remember the days of Michigan football and Bo Schembechler. The success of the game often was dictated by the number of carries the running backs had. Forward pass? Only when absolutely necessary. 

While we like a great Wolverine running back as much as the next guy or gal, Dr. Egger is more concerned about carries of another sort — dental caries. 

Yeah, you know them as cavities, but the actual term is dental caries. It simply means a tooth now has decay that has penetrated the enamel. It’s the most common form of oral disease known to man, dental caries. The process of getting caries is called tooth decay. 

Once you have dental caries, you need Dr. Egger to remove the decayed portion of the tooth and replace it with a filling. 

Types of fillings 

Silver amalgam has been the main filling material for over 120 years. Here’s a little nugget for you — they’re not really silver, they’re actually mostly mercury! That is disconcerting to many people. To make them, mercury (50% of the eventual filling) is mixed with a powder comprised of silver, copper, tin, or zinc (usually a combination of some or all of those). There really isn’t any potential for harm from the mercury in your amalgam fillings. They’ve been studied by the FDA and they’ve been used since the 1800s. Still, some people don’t like the idea of being like a fish at the bottom of Lake Erie. 

Composite fillings are becoming more and more popular because they’re very close to tooth color, so the filling is virtually invisible in the tooth. The resin is made of a mixture of plastic and glass. Problem is composite fillings are not as durable as amalgam and they cost more. But Dr. Egger is placing more and more composite fillings as the resin is continually improving in durability, and patients like the way they match the tooth color. 

Ceramic or porcelain fillings have the admirable quality of being durable and having high aesthetic value because their color can closely match the natural color of the patient’s teeth. They are more expensive, but resist staining and aren’t easily scratched as composite resin can be. These types of fillings are usually called inlays or onlays, depending on how much of the tooth surface they replace, and are made at a dental lab according to Dr. Egger’s specifications. 

Glass ionomer fillings are made of a combination of acrylic and glass. They are intended for children’s baby teeth because they only last five years and release fluoride to strengthen the surrounding natural teeth. 

Do you have a tooth that has become overly sensitive? It probably has decay that is making its way inward. Call Dr. Egger at (989) 773-3560 and let’s check it out. 

Fillings 101

Carries. Who knows what that word means? Well, you probably know it by another term, tooth decay. It’s the most common form of the oral disease known to man, dental caries.

You probably think of them as “cavities.” But that term doesn’t fit what’s going on. That term probably came from the fact that once the dentist cleans out the decay, what is left is a cavity, space. And that cavity can’t be left open, as food debris and bacteria would become lodged in there. It needs to be filled.

Now comes your next term, “fillings.”

Dr. Egger fills dental caries every day. Increasingly what he uses to fill those cavities is composite resin, colloquially known as tooth-colored fillings.

Mercury in your mouth

Most people think the silver fillings in their molars are, well, made of silver. They’re not silver; they consist of mostly mercury! Holy bottom of the Detroit River, Batman! Yes, that is disconcerting to many people. Silver fillings are made of silver amalgam. To make them, dentists mix mercury (50% of the eventual filling) with a powder comprised of silver, copper, tin, or zinc (usually a combination of some or all of those). That sounds like a mine tailing pile in the U.P.! Scary. But the FDA has studied amalgam extensively and found it safe. Plus, the stuff has been used for fillings since the 1800s. Why? It is strong and durable.

Disadvantages of amalgam fillings

Beyond their grey appearance, silver amalgam fillings have other drawbacks. The edges of the filling can wear down, become weak, or break. This creates an environment where decay can take hold again. Also, with age the mercury, silver, and other metals in amalgam fillings expand and contract. This can make the filling split, or it can even crack a tooth. Plus, they can corrode, leak, and stain your adjacent teeth and your gums.

Tooth-colored restorations

That’s why Dr. Egger and other dentists are filling more and more decayed teeth with tooth-colored restorations using resin onlays. The resin is made of a mixture of plastic and glass, and it is bonded to the teeth in layers, making them structurally strong. Plus they create a tight, superior fit to the tooth. And, unlike amalgam fillings, where a part of the healthy tooth needs to be removed to make room for the filling, Resin composite fillings can be placed into teeth that have lost much of their tooth structure. This is because the resin pulls on the areas of the tooth it is bonded to, adding some strength.

Some resins even contain fluoride to prevent future decay. How cool is that?

It’s OK to say no to mercury and amalgam fillings. The odds are your next filling with Dr. Egger will be composite resin, and you won’t be able to see it once it’s placed. Call us at (989) 773-3560 to make your next appointment.

Doing Away with Decay

“Fill ’er up.”

Now that’s something you don’t hear anymore, unless you like to talk to yourself when you’re at the gas station. If you’re old enough to remember asking a service station attendant to fill up your car with gas, you’re probably old enough to have a few caries.

What? Caries.

Don’t worry if you don’t know what “caries” are, but dental caries are the most common oral disease. The process of getting caries is called tooth decay. Now you know what we’re talking about!

OK, you know them as cavities. But that’s really a misnomer. There isn’t a true cavity in the actual sense of the word, which indicates a space. The term may have come from what follows, the cleaning out of all decay in a tooth. What’s left is a “cavity” that will need to be filled. Why? Because if it were left open it would quickly fill with food debris and bacteria would become lodged in there. It needs to be filled.

Ah, there’s the reason it’s called a “filling.”

At Dr. Egger’s we fill dental caries every day. Today you have more options for your fillings than in the past.

Types of fillings with Dr. Egger

Most of us think of fillings as the silver pockets we see in the molars of other people when they talk or otherwise open their mouths. Well, they’re not really silver, they’re actually mostly mercury! That is disconcerting to many people. After all, if you wanted mercury, you’d eat some fish that had been hanging around the bottom of the Rouge River! Silver fillings are made of silver amalgam. To make them, we mix mercury (50% of the eventual filling) with a powder comprised of silver, copper, tin, or zinc (usually a combination of some or all of those). There really isn’t any potential for harm from the mercury in your amalgam fillings. They’ve been studied by the FDA and they’ve been used since the 1800s. Still, some people don’t like the idea of being like that Rouge River fish.

• Composite fillings are becoming more and more popular because they are very close to tooth color. The resin is made of a mixture of plastic and glass. Problem is composite fillings are not as durable as amalgam and cost more. Up until recently, composite fillings have been used to fill cavities on teeth with low chewing pressure. But every year, composite resins become harder and durable. So, Dr. Egger now uses them on molars.
• Ceramic or porcelain fillings have the admirable quality of being durable and having high aesthetic value because their color can closely match the natural color of the patient’s teeth. They are more expensive, but resist staining and aren’t easily scratched as composite resin can be.
• Glass ionomer fillings are made of a combination of acrylic and glass. They are intended for children’s baby teeth because they only last five years and release fluoride to strengthen the surrounding natural teeth.
• Gold fillings used to be popular (your Uncle Herb may have a couple gold fillings that you get the pleasure of seeing at Thanksgiving when he chews with his mouth open), but their visibility and expense have greatly decreased the use of gold in fillings. Still, they are very durable, sturdy, and non-corrosive.

If you have tooth pain, it could be a sign of decay living there. Call Dr. Egger at 989-773-3560 and let’s take a look.

While the word “amalgam” sounds like some sort of puzzle you’ll find in the Detroit Free Press Entertainment section, the stuff’s actually been finding a home in hundreds of millions of teeth for over 150 years.

Dental amalgam.

Way up in Mount Pleasant, Dr. Egger’s been using it, too. But the increasing quality and strength of composite resins are giving the old king of the filling hill, amalgam, a run for its money.

What is dental amalgam?

Dental amalgam is a dental filling material that has been used to fill cavities caused by tooth decay since the 1800s. When you consider all the teeth that have amalgam fillings in them, you’re likely to exclaim, “Holy bicuspid, Batman.”

Dental amalgam is a mixture of metals consisting of liquid (elemental) mercury and a powdered alloy composed of silver, tin, and copper. Approximately 50% of dental amalgam is elemental mercury. The chemical properties of elemental mercury allow it to react with and bind together with silver/copper/tin alloy particles to form an amalgam.

Who knew you had the makings of a mine in Cripple Creek, Colorado in your teeth? But there’s one reason amalgam has been so popular — strength. Amalgam fillings are very durable and can last for decades. That’s an important thing because every time you have to replace a filling, dentists like Dr. Egger have to remove a little more of the healthy tooth to make room for the filling.

People think of these fillings as “silver” fillings because they are a silver color. But they are more elemental mercury than anything.

Mixing your filling

When Dr. Egger places an amalgam filling, he first removes all the decayed tooth material. Once this is all gone, he shapes the tooth to make it friendly for the amalgam to be placed. Next, he mixes the powdered alloy with the liquid mercury to form amalgam putty. This soft amalgam putty is then placed and shaped in the prepared cavity where it rapidly hardens into a solid filling.

Composite resin to the rescue

Some people get freaked out when they realize they’re getting mercury put into their mouth. But it’s really not a big deal. Yes, elemental mercury does release very low levels of vapor that can then be inhaled and absorbed by the lungs. But the FDA has long studied this stuff and found that dental amalgam fillings are safe for adults and children over the age of six. It’s not like you’re a fish in the bottom of the Detroit River!

Despite being basically safe, amalgam fillings are kind of ugly. If a person has eaten one too many Snickers bars and has a mouth full of fillings, it can look like an episode of Bonanza with a vein of silver ore on their molars.

In recent years, more and more dentists and patients have opted to use composite resin for fillings. Composite resin is a mix of tooth-colored plastic and glass, so when placed it is virtually invisible in the tooth. The problem has been that composite hasn’t been as strong as amalgam, kind of like Captain America vs. Superman.

But that has been changing. Recent advances have strengthened the composite material used for fillings so that it can now be used in the molars, where the bite force is pretty intense. Dr. Egger now places composite fillings much in the same way he does bonding on the teeth. He places the composite in layers and then hardens it with an LED light. The end result is a strong filling that doesn’t show the silver look of amalgam.

Hopefully you won’t need a filling anytime soon, but if you do, Dr. Egger’s ready with the latest composite resin. Call us at 989-773-3560 to make your next appointment.