As a dental filling ages, the natural bacteria in your mouth can start to gradually weaken its bond with the adjacent tooth enamel. This process can be accelerated if you struggle to consistently brush and floss your teeth.
As this continues to occur you might notice the tooth becoming increasingly sensitive. This could also be accompanied by a change in texture and color of the tooth. Eventually, the natural bacteria in your mouth might also gain access to the interior of the tooth enamel causing a new area of tooth decay to develop.
If you ignore these early signs of a dental filling in distress, the bacterial presence could start to infect the pulp, nerve, or root of the tooth causing a toothache. Left untreated the compromised tooth could become severely infected or a dangerous dental abscess could form in the underlying gums.
To treat a tooth in this condition, Dr. David Blackhurst might need to perform endodontic therapy. This will remove all remaining traces of the tooth enamel and prepare sufficient structure to anchor a dental crown. Once completed the tooth will be fully restored and any lingering toothache pain should abate.
If you are in the American Fork, Utah area and you have a toothache or you’re experiencing symptoms of a distressed dental filling, you should call 801-756-7211 to seek immediate treatment at David R Blackhurst DDS.