porcelain fillings

[Phillip]

Hello

I have two porcelain fillings that were done two years ago and just lately one porcelain filling chipped and the tooth started to become sensitive. I have been back to see my dentist and she says that the chipped porcelain filling needs to be changed.

Could you tell me if porcelain fillings can be repaired. It seems like a lot of cost to replace the whole porcelain filling when it might be possible to repair the filling. Could you tell me if you can repair it and how much it would cost to have the filling repaired?

[Dr Vahid Motahar]

Hi,

Thank you for your question.

If want to be very honest in answering your question, as much as it is going to hurt your pocket , I have to say that I agree with your dentist and the porcelain filling needs to be replaced. It is possible to repair the chipped porcelain filling but the bonding and repair of it is not very long lasting and the repaired bit will come off again or it is very likely that it will. The worst is that it does not come off fully but remains there and develops leakage and then you think the tooth is fine where is in real terms is developing decay underneath and will be much more to fix it.

So my recommendation is that try to have it replaced and this time you may want to have composite restorations rather than porcelain which is repairable and repair is very good and as good as new. The only disadvantage is that composite is not as wear resistance as porcelain.