If you have a toothache, there’s a good chance you are suffering from tooth decay. One of the most common dental restorations for this problem is a tooth-colored composite filling. But what if you already have a filling or several fillings and you still have a dental problem. Here are just some of the signs that a filling needs to be replaced.
1. You Have Tooth Pain
It’s disturbing to develop tooth pain where you know you’ve gotten a filling, but it can and does happen. The problem can come on slowly with occasional sensitivity to hot or cold or sweet foods, or it can be acute and accompanied by sudden, serious tooth pain. What’s going on in this situation?
Chances are, the filling is no longer tightly sealed to the tooth, and bacteria or food particles have found their way inside, leading to additional decay or an infection. A tooth-colored filling may be the solution in this case but if the problem is deep and large, root canal therapy may be necessary followed by a porcelain crown.
2. Your Filling Falls Out
This is the most obvious reason you need a replacement filling. If you aren’t stressed out about a missing filling, you should be. Even if you don’t have any pain, that restoration was there for a reason and its absence is the fast route to dental damage.
The unfortunate reality is that when a filling falls out, whether on its own, because you suffered a blow to the mouth, or because you grind your teeth at night, it may take some of your healthy tooth enamel with it. The repair may be a new, bigger filling, or you may need an onlay or even a crown.
3. You Have a Silver Filling
There may be nothing wrong with your silver filling. It’s intact, it’s getting the job done, and you’ve had it for a while. What you may not know is that these amalgam fillings are not healthy for your mouth or you. Over time, they expand, which can damage your tooth. Your gums can become discolored around the treated tooth. And the filling leaches toxic mercury. If you’re on the fence about these unsightly dental repairs, don’t be – get them replaced with safe tooth-colored composite fillings as soon as you can.
4. The Filling Is Discolored
Tooth-colored composite fillings are meant to match natural tooth enamel, to blend in and look just like part of your tooth. Composite material is strong and aesthetically pleasing but if you notice that your filling has changed color, this is a strong indication that it needs to be replaced. A darker or yellowish filling is a sign that something has gone wrong with the filling or underneath the restoration. It can often be repaired with a new composite filling.
The Benefits of Tooth-Colored Fillings
Tooth-colored fillings are known as direct restorations because they aren’t designed then sent to a dental lab for creation. They are fabricated in the dentist’s chair, entirely inside the mouth, and cemented in place. If you take good care of your teeth and see your Red Bank dentist regularly for cleanings and checkups, your fillings can last for decades.
Worried about a tooth or filling? Contact Dr. Carole Sherrod Jewell and her team at Red Bank Dentistry to schedule an appointment.
