Pain around Fillings

Patients with cavities at Downtown Dental LLC in Chicago are assured of getting high-quality fillings. But no filling lasts forever, which is why we want our patients to understand when they need to come in for a replacement.

Sometimes a filling can be made poorly and interfere with a patient’s bite or contribute to decay. A high filling is one which rises high enough to prevent the patient from comfortably closing their bite. A filling can also not be totally flush with the seal holding it in, leaving a gap for decay-causing bacteria to enter. There are also cases in which the decay went deeper than was thought or started again after the filling’s placement.

We don’t expect this to happen with any of our fillings, but the seal holding it in will only last for about ten years. After that, the filling may come loose or a gap may open. Replacing the filling is an easy process in which it and any new decayed material is removed and sealed over with another filling or a partial crown. Our advanced imaging technology allows us to determine exactly how deep the decay goes.

Downtown Dental LLC operates at 25 E Washington St, Suite 1921, Chicago, Illinois, 60602. To schedule an appointment, call 312-782-8862 or visit Downtown-Dental.com and fill out a contact form.

 

Inlays and Onlays

With our fully modernized office, restorations are easier and faster than ever at Downtown Dental in Chicago. It is often the case that patients are suffering from decay or other tooth damage that is too severe for a filling but not bad enough to necessitate a whole new crown. In these cases, we can provide partial crowns called inlays or onlays.

The pointy bits of the back teeth are called cusps. An inlay is a partial crown which is small enough to be placed in between the cusps. An onlay replaces at least one of the cusps while also covering the indentations between them. The molars and premolars’ indentations are a place where food commonly gets trapped, allowing decay-causing bacteria to build up there, which is why partial crowns are most often made for these teeth.

After the decayed material has been removed, a scan will be taken of the patient’s mouth. This is used as the basis for the partial crowns’ manufacturing. Once our CEREC machine has finished milling the inlay or onlay, we’ll be able to cement it in. While teeth are a little sensitive following the removal of decay, the patient will soon be able to chew comfortably.

Downtown Dental LLC operates at 25 E Washington St, Suite 1921, Chicago, Illinois, 60602. To schedule an appointment, call 312-782-8862 or visit Downtown-Dental.com and fill out a contact form.