Why We Don’t Offer Traditional Fillings or Crowns

You want your dentist to offer you the best options for your oral health. Traditional fillings and crowns are no longer that best option. Thanks to research from the past forty years, patients now have biomimetic dentistry and are enjoying the difference that makes for their long-term health. Let’s break it down.

Fillings

Among adults in the US, 90% have at least one cavity. That means they probably have a filling too. Traditional fillings drill away decayed portions of your tooth and fill the cavity left behind. This filling might be an amalgam that looks dark or a composite designed to match the color of your tooth. Sounds fine, but traditional fillings leave your tooth prone to further decay and remove essential tooth structure that can lead to a cracked tooth down the road*. Those are serious health concerns.

Crowns

Those serious health concerns lead to the need for more aggressive treatment. Biomimetic dentists call this the Cycle of Death because it can ultimately lead to the death of your tooth. Traditional crowns are recommended for teeth with severe decay or cracks and are deceptively damaging to your tooth health. What better than a strong helmet for my tooth? Unfortunately, that’s not the case. In the example of a bicycle helmet, the helmet is designed to absorb any force, protecting your head. Traditional crowns transfer most of the force from biting and chewing to what remains of your tooth underneath. Just like fillings, these crowns leave your tooth susceptible to further decay and cracks.

Stopping the Cycle of Death

That title sounds dramatic, but biomimetic dentists really do want to save the life of your tooth. How do we do that? From the first steps, biomimetic doctors use decades of research to remove decay and cracks more effectively from your teeth than with traditional techniques. This includes the use of microscopes to better identify cracks, dye to show where exactly decay has spread and precise measurements to protect your tooth’s nerve. After that, your tooth is sealed to prevent new decay and cracks from forming.

But it keeps getting better. Not only is your tooth protected from further pathologies (cracks and decay), but biomimetic dentists can restore your tooth to function like a natural tooth. Unlike the traditional fillings and crowns that leave gaps in your tooth (hello, bacteria!), biomimetic dentists create a seal so tight that your tooth is protected from damage just like your natural teeth. Now that’s a healthy smile.

Where do veneers fit in?

You might be wondering, “I want a healthy smile, but I would also like my teeth to be a little whiter, more symmetrical, etc…” With biomimetic dentistry, you can have it all! Original preparation for veneers ground down your teeth just like for a crown, even if your teeth were healthy. Thanks to advances in composite and bonding materials, more dentists are able to create additive veneers that preserve your healthy tooth. Biomimetic dentists can adjust the shape and color of your teeth using techniques that preserve your tooth’s natural structure and resilience.

Biomimetic dentistry means you don’t have to sacrifice the health of your teeth if you have decay, a crack or want to change your smile. That is why biomimetic dentistry is the only dentistry we practice at the Alleman Center.

*Imagine you have a moving box with a hole cut in the top. It might be a small hole or a hole that cuts across the entire top width of the box. The box is full of towels, t-shirts, etc., so that hole won’t matter, right? But when you put another box on top of that box with all of your favorite blankets, the weight pulls apart at the top of the box that isn’t connected. The same thing happens to your tooth with a cavity every time you chew.

You might still have questions. 

Teeth can die? Short answer: Unfortunately, yes. Just like any part of your body with a blood supply, they can necrose, or die. This most often happens when decay or cracks enter your tooth’s root.

Should I have my traditional crowns and filling replaced? Short answer: Dr. Alleman can check them at your next visit, but if you are experiencing pain or sensitivity before then, contact us so we can chat more.

We’ll write about these topics and more in future blog posts, or we’re happy to talk about the work we do any time. Reach out at office@allemancenter.com or (801) 717-9860 any time, or ask Dr. Alleman at your next appointment.