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Fracture: Filling material that has broken in two or more pieces. Pieces may or may not be moving and are not often felt by the patient. The restoration must be replaced. |
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Leakage: Fluids penetrate between a filling and the tooth, causing decay. A patient usually notices this condition when the tooth becomes sensitive to fluids, sweets, or hot or cold. The restoration must be replaced. |
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Loose Crown: The crown cementing medium may have failed. In the case of endodontic treatment, the post holding the crown may have broken or its cementing medium may have failed. It can be caused by an improper bite relationship, eating the wrong foods, or parafunctional mouth habits. Sometimes the restoration can be repaired and reused; otherwise, it must be totally redone. |
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Open Contact: When two teeth that should touch don’t, it is referred to as an open contact. It may be due to unwanted tooth movement after an extraction but is usually a result of an undercontoured filling. It can trap food and cause severe gum infection, bleeding, and bone loss around the affected teeth. The filling (or fillings) may need to be replaced. |
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Open Margins: When a filling does not meet the tooth preparation, the result is an open margin. Basically, a crevice exists between the filling and the tooth. Plaque is easily trapped, predisposing the tooth to additional decay. This can be especially serious in crowns. Infrequently, an open margin can be repaired, but usually must be replaced. |
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Overcontour: When a filling or crown is shaped incorrectly, especially when it is too wide, it can cause bleeding gums and infection. The restoration must be reshaped or replaced. |
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Overhang: The most common type of restoration defect is an overhang. When the restorative material extends beyond the normal contour of the tooth beneath the gum, it causes a plaque trap. One common indication is the ripping or shredding of dental floss. An overhang causes gum infection (red gums that bleed easily). The excess material must be removed by polishing or replacing the restoration. |
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Recurrent Decay: New tooth decay is seen around the tooth/filling margin or under the filling. You may or may not notice this condition. Usually, we notice it in a clinical exam or on a dental radiograph. Recurrent decay requires immediate replacement. |
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Stained Resin: A stained composite resin is often a sign of degradation of the resin. Older resins are more prone to show staining. The stain indicates the resin matrix that holds the inorganic components together is old, overstressed, and no longer resisting moisture. We can then determine urgency of replacement. When it is a cosmetic problem, we will recommend that you have it restored sooner. |
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Undercontour: When a filling or crown is of an improper shape, especially deficient in width, it is undercontoured. This condition causes food impaction and gum infections. An undercontoured filling must be replaced. |
