What Happens When a Filling Fails?

Dental fillings are the most basic solution to address cavities in your teeth. Cavities form when bacteria wear holes in your enamel with their growth and metabolism. If you spot a cavity and treat it quickly, your dentist can remove the bacteria, sterilize the tooth, and place a dental filling to repair the damage. Dental fillings are strong, durable, and a great solution for small cavities. Sometimes, however, dental fillings fail. When that happens, what are you supposed to do next? Well, it depends on the individual situation and the cause of the failure.

Dental Fillings Still Need to Be Replaced Over Time

In many cases, a dental filling failing is simply the result of time. While dental fillings are strong and durable, they do still wear out over time. You will probably need to have your filling replaced a few times throughout your life, and it isn’t necessarily cause for concern. A failed dental filling should not cause you to be skeptical of dental fillings moving forward. They are still an easy and effective solution to repair the structural damage caused by cavities. If the filling simply can’t repair the cavity, you may need a crown.

Dental Crowns Can Be Used When Dental Fillings Fail

Sometimes a cavity is too large to repair with a filling. Serious cavities can destroy the structural integrity of your tooth and cause further oral health problems. If your filling has loosened and bacteria are building up around the filling, it needs to be replaced, and your dentist will probably want to use a crown. Dental crowns cover teeth completely, protecting them from infection and physical harm. Dental crowns are a great way to repair a vulnerable tooth when a filling isn’t enough to do the job.

Treating a Failed Filling Quickly Is Key

Whether your filling just needs to be replaced, or it’s time to move on to a crown, it’s important that you treat failed dental fillings quickly. Tooth decay is a progressive condition, and the longer bacteria are allowed to grow and spread, the greater the consequences. Replacing a failed filling quickly may simply mean a new filling. Waiting may mean root canal treatment. To avoid issues like infected root canals and tooth loss, you should always meet your oral health issues head on, as soon as possible.

Explore Restorative Dentistry Options at Greenhaven Family Dental

You have restorative dentistry options, and you should use them. When a filling fails, treat the issue quickly to prevent further damage. At Greenhaven Family Dental, we offer restorative solutions like dental fillings and dental crowns to create a lifelike repair for your damaged tooth. Schedule an appointment at Greenhaven Family dental in Baxter, MN by calling our office at 218-454-0523.