Causes of Filling Failure

When patients suffer from tooth decay, Dr. Dennis Morhart’s Enid dental office is ready to help them. Our fillings are aesthetically pleasing and comfortable, but no filling lasts forever. Recently, scientists have conducted research on what causes fillings to fail, and we want our readers to know when they’re at risk.

Scientists are surprised to find that filling failure is associated with certain gene patterns. Therefore, it is especially important for people whose relatives have poor dental health to monitor their old fillings and maintain regular check-ups. But two of the biggest predictive factors were lifestyle related: smoking and alcohol. The scientists examined male smokers and found that their rate of filling failure was higher than that of male non-smokers. They also found that people of both sexes who consume alcohol have higher rates of filling failure. Because losing a filling is painful and potentially dangerous, we hope our patients will do everything they can to prevent this and will come to us if an old filling becomes sensitive or starts to leak. On a positive note, the researchers also found that white-colored composite fillings work just as well as old grey-colored amalgam ones, making these nicer-looking prosthetics a viable dental health option.

Dr. Dennis Morehart, Master of the Academy of General Dentistry, operates Enid Dental Care at 2411 Heritage Trail, Ste #4, Enid, Oklahoma, 73703. To schedule an appointment, call 580-237-2213 or visit Enid Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Hookah Tobacco and Teeth

Smoking a hookah has become super trendy in restaurants, cafes, and bars. Though people have tried to pass it off as a safer way of smoking tobacco, this has been proven false, and hookah tobacco can wreak just as much havoc on your teeth and gums as regular cigarettes. Research shows that periodontal disease increases by fivefold in water pipe smokers. Dr. Dennis, Morehart, DDS doesn’t want to put a damper on your fun, but he wants you to be aware of the risks associated with smoking hookah.

Though a hookah as a water chamber that filters smoke, this isn’t safe for the teeth and gums. It’s true that filtering tobacco through water removes some of the dangerous toxins, however, the smoke itself contains levels of nicotine that are three times the amount of actual cigarettes. Overall, the act of smoking provides no benefits to your oral health, therefore if you only smoke hookah as a recreational activity try to find something else to do that will be better for your smile.

If you have questions or concerns about dental health, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit www.eniddentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213.