You’ve been under a lot of stress lately and have been grinding your teeth at night. Although you’re used to the dull discomfort from your night-time habit, you woke up this morning and the pain in your back right molar was severe – this kind of ache was so much to deal with that you knew something serious had to be going on. When you visit your dentist in Westfield, they tell you that you broke a filling and that’s what’s causing your problem. And, it’s a good thing you went into Indy Dental Group to have this taken care of right away, since waiting to repair a broken filling can lead to oral infections and the need for root canal therapy.
Why Do Fillings Fall Out?
As your trusted dentist in 46074, our team has seen plenty of broken fillings and has decades of experience correcting broken dental restorations. Fillings most often chip, break, or come out for the following reasons:
- Tooth wear caused by grinding your teeth
- Bacteria that has leaked into the margins of the filling
And, since no filling will last forever, there are times when these will come out simply because it’s time to have the filling replaced.
Why Should I Have My Filling Replaced?
If you’re not in pain when your filling comes out, you may be wondering if you really need to have it replaced, especially since discomfort is one of the primary reasons people seek dental care. Even if your tooth isn’t hurting, it’s important that you see us right away when a broken filling happens, to avoid the more complicated problems below:
- Oral Infections – When a filling breaks, it leaves an already vulnerable tooth more compromised and susceptible to developing dangerous oral infections, which can escalate quickly and become serious rapidly.
- Root Canal Therapy – When the inner layers of the tooth are affected by infection, you’ll need a root canal to end your pain and remove the troublesome tissue. This type of progressive root and tooth pulp infection can commonly happen when a cavity advances after you lose a filling, so be sure to reach out to us right away to prevent the need for this costly procedure.
- Extraction – If the infection spreads and becomes severe, or your tooth is fractured and badly damaged, the only option may be to remove the tooth and to replace it with a dental implant, bridge, or partial denture.
If fillings chip, break, or come out entirely, don’t panic – since this is one of the most common dental emergencies, just give us a call and we’ll be happy to help. We’re here at (317) 867-5400.
One of the easiest ways to prevent broken fillings is with regular preventive dental care. With a professional exam and checkup, we can take a look at the status of any potential problems and replace faulty or old fillings before they break or come out on their own – and, having a cleaning done every six months is a great way to prevent cavities and fillings in the first place, so schedule your appointment with Indy Dental Group today!