While a dental filling is intended to repair a small-to-medium sized cavity for a long time, it is still not uncommon for one to fail over the lengthy course of time. In some cases, you might even be able to notice a filling is about to fall out. In general, the larger and older a filling is, the more likely it is to fail.
Our team at Solomon & Wright Associates, P.C. would like to share a few common warning signs to look out for if you suspect one of your fillings is going bad.
One of the more common symptoms is a sharp pain when biting down or chewing with the tooth. This could also be associated with a change in texture or if a gray color develops in the surrounding enamel. This usually means bacteria have invaded the seam between the filling and the healthy tooth enamel.
A filling located near your tongue might also start to develop a sharp or abnormal texture. This is usually a sign that bacteria have weakened the cement holding the filling in place. As they develop they loosen the cement and can actually start to push the filling out of the socket in the enamel.
If the bad filling is small and there is not a lot of new decay in the tooth, a Solomon & Wright Associates, P.C. dentist might be able to repair the problems by removing a small amount of additional enamel and cementing a new filling in place.
If you suspect that one of your fillings is going bad, or you have recently lost a filling, please call Solomon & Wright Associates, P.C.’s office in Melrose, Massachusetts at 781-665-5222 to have it examined and treated in a timely manner. Our dentists are pleased to help you maintain your healthy, confident smile!