Comprehensive Dentistry:

A Matter of Choice not Chance!

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As an educated consumer, you need to decide how long you want your restorations to last before they need replacement. It is a fact of life that anything done in your mouth, any type of restoration that is placed will eventually fail! Laws of physics and chemistry cannot be suspended no matter how much we want them not to exist. All filling materials are subject to fatigue. When the fatigue reaches a point that exceeds its strength, the filling breaks and must be replaced. You have a great deal of control over the interval at which the fillings must be replaced. The restorations that last the longest and protect the tooth will cost more initially however, they will prevent replacement at earlier intervals, thereby costing more in time in the office as well as out of pocket cost to the patient. Less expensive restorations will work well, but for a shorter period of time before replacement. Most less expensive restorations will last 5-10 years, while Laboratory processed Crowns, Bridges, Porcelain or Gold Onlays or Inlays can last longer. It is not unusual to see restoration such as the latter to last 25 years or more.

As an example, you may buy a 30,000 mile tire, 40,000 mile tire or an 80,000 mile tire. The 80,000 mile tire will cost more, but will also last longer! If you pay less for the 30,000 mile tire and it lasts 30,000 miles, you cannot be upset. It did as designed. Wishing will not make it last 80,000 miles. Dental restorations are similar. The expertise of the Dentist, as well as the quality of the materials, mean a lot!

What we recommend is that the best possible, longest lasting material/restoration be placed first! Do it completely the first time, and it won’t have to be done over as soon. If your financial situation prevents you from having all the dental treatment that you need performed now, the treatment may be phased in stages over weeks, months and years. In this way, you may be able to accept the most ideal treatment, which is what you need, want and deserve. At Chester Dental, we will suggest what we believe to be the best choice for you. We will try to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of compromises in treatment, however the Final Choice is yours.

Let Dentistry be decided by Your Choice not by Chance!