Almost everyone has at least one filling. You might have had the filling placed years ago, or you might have even had it since childhood. Over time, fillings can become discolored, damaged, worn down, or broken. A discolored filling can make you self-conscious about your appearance, and a damaged filling can lead the way to additional decay. If you are unhappy with the way your fillings look, talk to your dentist about possible solutions.
Replacing Old, Damaged Fillings
Several problems can develop with fillings over time. If you have metal fillings, they can eventually cause cracking in the surrounding tooth because they expand and contract in response to heat and cold. They can also become darker and unattractive. Fillings made of tooth-colored material can become stained, or can look darker in comparison to the surrounding tooth if you have your teeth whitened. Any of these situations can cause you to be unhappy with the way your mouth looks.
If you’re unhappy with your current fillings, you should talk to your dentist. Metal amalgam fillings that have become discolored can be replaced with tooth-colored fillings. If your tooth has become cracked because of a filling, you might require a dental crown. A tooth-colored crown will keep your tooth intact and also cover the unattractive metal of the filling. Unfortunately, the materials used in tooth-colored fillings do not respond to tooth whitening, so if they no longer match the color of your teeth, they will need to be replaced.
Veneers for Discolored Fillings
If you’ve had fillings in your front teeth, they are probably tooth-colored fillings, made of porcelain or a tooth-colored dental resin. Over time, your teeth can change color, but the fillings tend not to. If your teeth become stained over time, the fillings will appear lighter than the rest of the tooth. If you have your teeth whitened, the fillings will remain the original color and will appear darker than the surrounding teeth.
One way to correct this issue is to have the filling replaced. However, with front teeth, you can also choose dental veneers. These are placed on the front tooth surfaces to cover the teeth. The procedure is relatively simple, and can be performed in your dental office.
Contact us today at the office of Dr. Daggula to schedule an appointment!
