When Dr. Sami Y. Nouhad uses a filling to repair a cavity or other imperfection in a tooth, the intention is for that filling to last a long time. Unfortunately, as time passes fillings can get old and lose a little integrity, or bacteria can slowly and pervasively work their way into the seam where the cement holds a filling in place. In general, larger fillings and older fillings are more likely to fail.
In some instances, you can notice a sign of a bad filling before it falls out. If the filling is on the biting surface of a tooth you might notice a sharp pain when biting down or chewing. If a filling is on the lingual part of a tooth, near your tongue, you might feel it develop an edge or a change in texture. You might also notice a slight shade of gray in the nearby enamel.
If the problem is spotted and addressed early enough, Dr. Sami Y. Nouhad might replace the lost filling by simply removing a little more enamel and cement a new, larger filling in its place.
If there isn’t sufficient enamel left to properly cement a hold a new filling in place, then Dr. Sami Y. Nouhad might recommend that the entire enamel layer be replaced with a crown.
If you notice signs of a bad filling or you have just lost a filling please call Sami Y. Nouhad, DDS at 323-466-3541 to schedule an appointment.