A lot of people come to my practice to have old and unsightly dental work redone. This ranges from the one front tooth that was crowned after a bicycle accident at the age of eight, to those ever so common mercury metal fillings. I am continually made aware of the issue that the patient was not informed about their options at the time that the service was performed. They got what the dentist decided to give them. In October of 2001, the Dental Board of California adopted a “Dental Materials Fact Sheet.” Although the push for the board to adopt this was the ongoing controversy of the mercury content of metal amalgam fillings (43 to 54 percent), the purpose was to summarize information on the dental materials most frequently used to restore teeth. The information is intended to encourage discussion between the patient and dentist regarding the selection of the materials best suited for the patient’s dental needs.
I find that the most frequently asked restorative question is about changing the old gray metal fillings to white, or tooth colored restorations. A close second is the esthetic question of the dark lines of metal that show at the gum line of crowns. These are both dental materials questions, and there may be multiple answers or options for the patient based on their functional needs as well as their esthetic goals.
For example: A small metal filling may be replaced by a small tooth colored resin filling, but a big metal filling may need to be replaced by a larger laboratory processed resin or ceramic restoration, or may ultimately need a crown to restore the structural integrity of the tooth. Would you like Gold, porcelain fused to metal, or all ceramic? There are advantages to each, and drawbacks. How would you know the pros and cons of each? Your dentist needs to not only be familiar with the different types of materials and their best uses, but also aware of your interests and goals. This takes communication, between the doctor and lab, as well as the doctor and you.
I encourage patients to ask questions, and I try to develop a dialog to uncover their treatment goals, and to help them understand their options, including potential costs and benefits. Remember, it is your mouth, and your smile.
To smile with confidence, please call Dr. Dell Goodrick at 661-254-4000, and visit the website at www.drdell.com.