Saturday, March 1, 2014

You Could Have Cavities Underneath Your Fillings

You may be brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day, but that does not mean tooth decay is not lurking underneath your dental restorations. Old fillings can be harboring cavities that if left untreated could become abscessed. Schedule an appointment with your Dentist in La Jolla if you have dental fillings that are 10 years or older. You may not feel any pain, but chances are those old fillings could be harboring tooth decay.

Old silver amalgam fillings can leak or contain gaps that allow food particles to seep underneath the filling. Unfortunately, if your 92037 Denist did not properly fill your tooth, you could be asking for trouble. Dr. David Kitchen will tell you that cavities under fillings can cause additional tooth decay to form.

According to your San Diego Dentist, cavities can also develop under your dental crowns. If this occurs, it is imperative that you schedule an appointment for a dental check up with Dr. David Kitchen.

Unfilled teeth will always be stronger than teeth that have been filled, and fillings rarely last for the rest of your life, which means they will need to be replaced over time. Some reasons for replacing may be obvious such as a broken filling or the need to replace a silver amalgam filling. Unfortunately, damage and decay, whether it is underneath a crown or a filling can usually only be detected by a Dentist in San Diego.

After you have a cavity filled, you are more susceptible to tooth decay underneath, especially if you do not practice good oral hygiene. Other reasons that may cause cavities underneath your fillings include leaks and cracks around the restoration itself. If the decay is not taken care of as soon as possible, you could be asking for more cavities.

Fillings can leak if there is a gap between the tooth and the filling itself. Even a tiny leak can cause debris, food, bacteria, and plaque to make its way under the filling eventually causing tooth decay.

The best way to find out if you have tooth decay under your crowns, tooth colored or silver amalgam fillings is to schedule an appointment with your 92037 Dentist, Dr. David Kitchen.