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Broken Fillings Dental fillings are often the perfect choice for particular fractures or cracks in a tooth. They can be really strong and last for years. However, there are instances where dental fillings break or come loose. These situations can bring severe pain to a patient, and we often consider such situations as dental emergencies. What Is A Filling?A dental filling is a prosthetic used to restore cracked, broken, fractured, or decayed teeth back to their complete structure. When you have a hole in your tooth from decay or a root canal, a filling is most suitable for covering the space left after treatment. Dental fillings are usually strong enough to support the remaining part of a tooth while restoring its functions. How Do Fillings Break?As they do not last forever, dental fillings may break or crack in different ways, usually coming as a surprise. Dental fillings may get broken as a result of wear on our teeth. The continuous usage of our teeth for chewing, grinding, clenching or cutting, may cause a filling to crack or break. Tooth decay can also loosen the tightness of a filling in an affected tooth, causing it to fall out or break eventually. Furthermore, patients who suffer dental trauma or injuries to their face or mouth, may have their tooth filling knocked out, fractured, or broken. Patients who suffer bruxism can also break their fillings from their constant teeth grinding or clenching. Finally, sometimes dental fillings can wear out and may come loose or break. How Do You Know If A Filling Is Broken?Usually, fillings that break or come loose of more natural causes are easier to spot. You may realize that a weird object is in your mouth, and it is neither food nor something you particularly put in there. You can always spit it out to see what it is. You can also use your tongue to feel around the suspicious tooth crown to see if there are obvious cracks or spaces. Oftentimes, you may experience sensitivity or pain on the affected tooth. If the filling has fallen out unnoticed, when you eat or drink hot or cold meals and drinks, you may feel sensitivity or pain on that tooth. This falls under dental emergencies and you should contact our professionals immediately. How Are Broken Fillings Restored?Our professionals will examine the affected tooth and the filling itself. If it is just a crack that is not severe, we may clean the filling, and then polish it. However, for situations that have resulted from tooth decay or dental trauma, an extraction may be required. If the tooth itself is damaged from decay or trauma, but the root is still in good condition, our professionals will treat the tooth and cover it with a crown. In situations where the filling has worn out, replacing it is usually the best option. Broken fillings can leave your teeth exposed to bacteria and raise risks of infection and damage. Therefore, it is advisable to act swiftly as soon you spot or suspect a broken filling. Our professionals at Summercrest Dental are always available to help you with your broken fillings. Call us at (503) 649-7701 to learn more. |
