Minor defects and cavities on a tooth’s enamel layer can often be treated with a dental filling. This treatment process is designed to replace the compromised area with an alternative material such as gold, porcelain, an amalgam or composite resin. These materials are used to restore the structural integrity and basic function of the tooth for many years to come. Good oral hygiene habits can help maintain the strong bond between the dental filling and the adjacent tooth enamel.
If you sometimes forget to brush your teeth twice a day and floss them once a day, leftover plaque and food particles can start to accumulate in your mouth. The persistent presence of these bacterial deposits can establish an acidic environment. As time goes on the acid could cause new areas of tooth decay as well as weaken the bond between the dental filling and the surrounding tooth enamel. This could cause growing sensitivity and discomfort in the affected tooth. If you have noticed anything amiss with one of your teeth, you need to have it examined as soon as possible by our dentist, Dr. Steven A. Beuligmann. The dentist may want to the damage with a replacement filling or a dental crown. If a newly developed area of tooth decay has affected the pulp or root of the tooth the dentist might need to perform a root canal.
If you live in Carlsbad, California, and you are missing a dental filling, you should call 760.729.5964 to have it treated as soon as possible at Steven A. Beuligmann, DDS Inc.