A dental filling is typically bonded to the surrounding healthy tooth enamel with an integrity that is meant to last for many years. As time passes it’s possible for the surrounding tooth enamel to weaken. This is even more likely to be an issue if you’ve struggled to maintain a consistent daily oral hygiene routine in the past.
Large dental fillings, as well as inlays, and onlays that repair the biting surface of a tooth are particularly susceptible to failure. Should one of these dental fillings fall out, the exposed area of tooth enamel can be very vulnerable to a new area of tooth decay developing.
In a situation like this, you should seek timely treatment from a dentist like Dr. Austin Babcock. Having the tooth repaired early can improve your treatment options and help prevent tooth loss or the need for invasive treatment. Sometimes your dentist can replace a small missing dental filling with a slightly larger one. If the dental filling was large or on the biting surface of a tooth, your dentist might recommend restoring the tooth with a dental crown.
If a new area of tooth decay has afflicted the deeper recesses of the tooth, Dr. Austin Babcock might need to perform endodontic therapy. This will remove the tooth’s enamel layer and replace any internal structures that have been compromised. Once this is done they will prepare an abutment to anchor a dental crown. If you are in the Sedona, Arizona, area and you have a missing or distressed dental filling, you should call 928-282-1514 to seek treatment at Sedona Dental Arts.