Dental Fillings in Atlanta

Dr. Kokabi works through when a filling is genuinely needed and when a tooth is better left alone. Chewing surface cavities are judged by sight and by whether the explorer catches in them, and the answer changes with the patient: a small dark spot on an 80 year old with no history of decay is treated differently to the same spot on a teenager who gets cavities often. Cavities between the teeth only show on x-rays, and very small ones are often watched rather than drilled. He also covers chipped teeth, abfraction lesions, old fillings and root canal treated teeth. Untreated decay usually does progress toward a root canal, but a small demineralized spot can stay stable if brushing, flossing and sugar habits improve.

Patients often come to us for a second opinion after being told all of their silver fillings have to go. An old amalgam filling that is smooth, uncracked and has no decay at its edges is usually fine left alone, even if it is decades old and worn. It does need replacing when it is cracked or broken, or when decay has formed where the filling meets the tooth, which shows as brown or black staining that catches an instrument. Replacing them because you dislike how they look is a separate conversation, and one we are happy to have.