Research into Filling Failure

At Chapel Street Dental in New Haven, we apply the latest medical research toward preventive care for our patients. Recently, scientists examined some of the causes of dental filling failure, and we wanted to share them with our readers in order to emphasize the importance of regular check-ups.

Fillings generally last for ten years. Some of the most common factors in people whose fillings failed early were alcohol and tobacco use. The study only examined male smokers, but it found they and people of both sexes who drank alcohol had a higher chanced of filling failure after just two years. The scientists were surprised to find that filling failure also seems to run in families and they speculated about a genetic reason for this.

There was also a lot of positive news. The study found that white resin bonding does not have a higher failure rate than the old amalgam fillings. This is good because white fillings are generally thought to be better looking and to be unaffected by changes in temperature, which some people complain about with metal fillings.

Chapel Street Dental is located at 806 Chapel St, New Haven, Connecticut, 06510. To schedule an appointment, call 203-772-1000 or visit New Haven Dental and fill out a contact form.

 

Oral Cancer and Alcohol

Dentists are a vital part of the care team for oral cancer patients. At Chapel Street Dental in New Haven, we want to help our patients understand how to avoid this disease and how to care for themselves if they do get it, which is why we’re sharing new research linking oral cancer to alcohol.

According to the study, conducted by the American Society of Clinical Oncologists, 5-6% of all new cancer cases, including cancers of the throat and oral cavity, are attributable to alcohol. This was one of the first studies to examine alcohol separately from smoking, which was already known to be one of the most common causes of oral cancer. One of the most concerning findings of the study was that most people are unaware that alcohol raises their risk for cancer and that it interferes with the success of chemotherapy.

The study provides evidence that even moderate drinkers are at a higher risk for oral cancer. It did not matter what type of alcohol they consumed. However, the study also found that when people gave up drinking, their risk of oral and throat cancer declined to the level it had been out before they started.

Chapel Street Dental is located at 806 Chapel St, New Haven, Connecticut, 06510. To schedule an appointment, call 203-772-1000 or visit New Haven Dental and fill out a contact form.