Tooth decay is often a result of poor oral hygiene allowing the natural bacteria in your mouth to exploit a weakened area of tooth enamel. When a cavity forms on a tooth, the decay can spread quickly throughout the tooth enamel. To prevent serious complications, your dentist, Dr. Jamie Choi, often treats the problem with a dental filling in San Jose, California. While it is meant to last a long time, no filling will last forever.
Sometimes you can notice the symptoms that mean one of your fillings is about to go bad. Early detection can significantly improve your treatment options and limit potential complications.
One common symptom of a filling going bad is a sharp pain when biting or chewing with the tooth. This could also be associated with a change in the tooth’s texture, especially if the filling is on the lingual side of the tooth near your tongue.
A slight graying in the tooth enamel surrounding the filling is also a cause for concern. This is usually a result of the bacteria invading the seam between the filling and the healthy tooth enamel. If a new area of decay develops within the tooth, it can cause the filling to fall out or allow decay to penetrate the interior of the tooth.
If a filling is small enough when it starts to go bad, Dr. Jamie Choi can sometimes repair the area by removing a small amount of additional enamel. Then, a new slightly larger filling can be applied in its place.
If a new area of decay has formed in the tooth, Dr. Jamie Choi might need to restore the tooth enamel with a dental crown made from porcelain, gold or base metal alloy. If the decay penetrates the pulp or root of the tooth, she might need to perform a root canal to excise the decayed material.
If you suspect you have a bad filling in San Jose, California, you shouldn’t delay in contacting Jamie P. Choi, DDS at 408-973-8500 to have it examined and repaired.