A dental or tooth filling is generally a dental restoration involving the removal of decayed material and repair of the affected tooth. Your dentist might recommend a root canal procedure or tooth capping for severe cases. Regardless of the method needed, you should seek regular dental examinations to prevent acute decay. Still unsure whether you need to schedule an appointment with your doctor for tooth filling? Keep reading to learn four common signs that you do.
Tooth Crazing
Sometimes, you might notice craze lines on your teeth. They are typically vertical lines that are cracks on your tooth's enamel, often resulting from excessive stress. They appear after prolonged oral activities, including chewing, teeth grinding, clenching and nail-biting. Over time, your teeth might darken because of these unsightly cracks. Fortunately, your dentist might consider coloured tooth fillings to hide these lines. In turn, this restores the beautiful appearance of your teeth. Dentists might refer to this type of fillings as cosmetic bonding.
Toothaches and Sensitivity
Toothaches are also a likely sign that you might require a dental filling. However, sensitivity to particular foods, pressure or temperatures might be other signs you need a tooth filling appointment. Furthermore, sharp or sudden pain while chewing food might be a potential sign that you need a dental filling.
Tooth Wear
Naturally, your teeth will wear down gradually as you age. During this process, the flat biting surfaces become darker, making your teeth appear unsightly. Tooth wear and subsequent damage can also arise from bruxism or tooth grinding. Often, this will cause your teeth to chip and deteriorate over time. If this happens, your dentist might use a teeth-coloured bonding as the ideal filling repair method to restore your teeth. The fillings help in improving your biting and chewing ability. After the procedure, your dentist will recommend an appropriate night guard to alleviate further damage.
Fractured Teeth
Finally, fractured teeth are another common sign that you need tooth fillings. Often, cavities are the primary reason you might want to see a dentist for tooth fillings. However, fractured teeth might be repaired using white composite filling materials. Whichever the case, these teeth fillings help decelerate damage and alleviate further tooth decay.
These are the four common signs you need tooth fillings. Other potential symptoms include lost or broken fillings, visible holes in your teeth, dark spots or dental tears during flossing. Therefore, schedule a dental appointment with a local general dentistry clinic for teeth fillings if you see or experience these symptoms.
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