Dental fillings are bonded very securely to the surrounding tooth enamel. This gives them the strength to endure the rigors of chewing food each day. Unfortunately, it is possible for poor oral hygiene practices to weaken the dental filling’s connection.
In time, it could even allow the natural bacteria in your mouth to invade the seam between the dental filling and the remainder of the healthy tooth. As this happens, you might notice a gray shade appear in the areas surrounding the dental filling.
However, sometimes there is no overt sign of a dental filling being in distress. You might be eating food or chewing gum and it suddenly falls out. In a situation like this, you should not delay in seeking dental care at our dental office in Essex Junction, Vermont. A tooth with a missing filling is at increased risk for a severe dental fracture or other complications.
If the lost dental filling was small Dr. Scott Thompson and Dr. Erica Grayson DiGuglielmo might be able to apply a new dental filling to repair the area. This will require removing a small amount of surrounding tooth enamel to ensure a clean surface to bond the new dental filling.
If the original dental filling was large or the tooth was significantly compromised, Dr. Scott Thompson and Dr. Erica Grayson DiGuglielmo might recommend restoring the tooth with a dental crown. This will completely replace all of the tooth enamel with an alternate material.
If you live in the Essex Junction, Vermont, area and you have lost a dental filling, you should call 802-879-7811 to seek treatment at Scott Thompson, DMD.