Rebuilding weakened teeth

Usually the first fillings we have aren’t too big. But each time they get replaced, they end up being a bit larger.

When cavities get large and deep, there’s less tooth structure to hold more filling in place. So each time a tooth like this gets refilled, it also gets weaker and they fail sooner. If you have lots of fillings,  you’re in all the time with another broken tooth. And each time you treat the tooth, there’s a risk of killing the nerve.

Worse, fillings don’t really protect the remaining tooth, so there’s a high risk of the tooth fracturing, sometimes to the point where it cannot be saved.

So if you want to keep your teeth for life, there may come a time when you may want to choose stronger restorations. These will protect the tooth and last longer, so you need less dentistry over the years too!

Stronger restorations you might consider are generally referred to as inlays, onlays or crowns. They come be made in gold or high strength ceramic or both.