Rear Teeth – Care And Restoration

Our back teeth are sometimes neglected more than they should be…..

Once fully developed, we should have eight rear teeth, also known as ‘molars’. These are very important teeth as they are used for chewing our food, breaking it down so that it can be easily swallowed and digested.

The fact that these teeth are located towards the rear of the mouth though, also means that they don’t always get the care and attention that they need.

Having filled a large number of these teeth over many years, our Ipswich dental clinic would like to offer some advice on how you can look after them better and also how they can be restored when things do go wrong.

Daily maintenance

Although our molars are very strong, and need to be, as they grind and chew our food, they are not exempt from problems like decay and root canal infections. As with our other teeth, they need to be cleaned thoroughly every day. Because of their location, this doesn’t always happen as it should, but with a little care and attention, you should be able to do this easily enough.  The most important thing is to brush your teeth, and this is where the problem often starts. While most people will brush these teeth, they tend to ‘flat brush’ them only, meaning that only the top surface gets cleaned. This is all well and good but one of the most common areas that we find tooth decay is at the rear of these teeth.

Make sure to make an effort to reach your toothbrush behind the back of your molars. You are likely to find this much easier to do if you use an electric toothbrush as the head is smaller and the rotation does much of the work for you.

You should also use dental floss behind your rear teeth. Again, it can be a little tricky but it is important to do so in order to remove any trapped food and bacteria from this difficult to reach place. Finally, swill your mouth well with water or mouthwash, paying special attention to this area. Remember that any food that is not removed will contribute to problems like decay.

Restoration

Although we prefer our patients to look after their teeth so that they don’t need treatment, we are often called on, at the Foxhall Dental Practice, to do just that. One of the most common problems that we encounter are cavities of the rear teeth. As these are important teeth, we will always do our best to restore them to as strong a state as possible.

Fillings

These are by far the most common treatment that we use to treat rear tooth cavities. Traditionally, this has been done using amalgam fillings, and although these are dark in colour, they are largely hidden and the amalgam does offer a strong and durable filling material. Some people though may prefer not to have this dark colour, and there is also a movement away from amalgam based on some health concerns.

Other restorations

There are alternatives available, including white tooth fillings. These are now significantly stronger than in the past. However, depending on the size and exact location of the cavity, this may not be a suitable option. Other alternatives may include a crown or possibly an inlay or onlay. The reality is that these teeth are ‘workhorse’ teeth and although they can be seen when we laugh or yawn, they may not be as aesthetically important as the social six ‘smiley’ teeth and therefore strength is key in their restoration.

Poor prognosis

Because of the pressure that is put on these teeth when we eat, there may be cases where the damage is so significant that even the best restoration may not provide enough strength for their daily use. If we feel that this is the case, then we may need to discuss their extraction with you. This does, of course, present a problem due to their functional nature, and we recommend that patients consider an alternative replacement.

Dental bridges may not be suitable if it is the very back tooth that is affected as there will be no adjacent tooth to attach the crown to. Dentures can be applied but movement could be an issue given the nature of its task. The most stable and robust tooth replacement available is the dental implant. These will offer an excellent option for anyone who has lost a rear tooth. They also offer the advantage that, being made of artificial material, they can not decay again. Good care is still important though as periodontitis and peri-implantitis can pose a threat to them. We will discuss their aftercare as well as other aspects of this procedure with you, should you wish to consider this option.

Remember then, that it is not just our ‘smiley’ teeth that need to be cleaned well. Even the less visible of our teeth should have good care and attention. If you have a problem with a rear tooth or would like to make an appointment with us for any other reason, please call the Foxhall Dental Practice in Ipswich today on 01473 258396.