Fillings are typically used by Dr. Forrest Buhler to repair chips or small cavities. They are often made from materials like gold, porcelain, amalgam, or composite resin that are impervious to the ravages of tooth decay. However, as time goes by, the pervasive bacteria in your mouth can slowly start to weaken the bond between the filling and the surrounding tooth enamel. This is even more likely to be a problem if you have poor oral hygiene practices or a bad habit of procrastinating your twice-annual dental checkups.
The larger and older a filling is, the more likely it is to go bad. This is often a result of the bacteria in your mouth infiltrating the microscopic seam between the filling and the adjacent tooth enamel.
If one of your fillings is giving you trouble, you should not delay in calling 801-794-9905 to seek timely treatment at Buhler Dental Arts.
One common symptom of a filling that’s having trouble is a sharp pain when biting down or chewing on that single tooth. This could also be associated with a change in texture, especially if the filling is on the lingual side of the tooth near your tongue.
A gray color in the adjacent tooth enamel is a telltale sign that bacteria have invaded the seam between the filling and the healthy tooth enamel. Much of the cement has likely been compromised and there is serious potential for new decay to set in.
If a bad filling is small enough and detected early, Dr. Forrest Buhler might be able to repair the area by simply removing a small amount of additional enamel. Then a new, slightly larger filling can be applied in its place.
If a new cavity has formed, or the missing filling was large, they might recommend having the entire tooth enamel layer replaced by a dental crown. The material used for the crown will vary depending on the tooth’s primary function and its visibility in your smile.
If you live in the Spanish Fork, Utah, area and you have a suspicious filling, you should call 801-794-9905 to seek treatment at Buhler Dental Arts.