How Do You Know If You Need a Dental Filling?

When you have a significant tooth issue, you might wonder if you should get dental fillings. After all, they’re supposed to be effective at protecting your smile. However, you may be unsure if they’re the best treatment for your problem. Wouldn’t it be wasteful to schedule a filling that ultimately wasn’t necessary? That said, it helps to know when they’re required ahead of time. Read on to learn the signs your teeth need a filling and the type that’s best for you.

Signs You Need a Filling

Patients receive dental fillings for various reasons. Consider the signs below to know whether your tooth should have one.

You Have a Severe Toothache

Severe tooth pain is an indicator that you need a dental filling. Unless you have recent dental damage, it probably signals you’ve developed a cavity. If this pain continues and doesn’t fade naturally, you should see your dentist about it.

Your Tooth Has a Dark Spot or Hole

A tooth with a cavity can sometimes develop a dark spot or hole. Should the cavity get larger, you may even feel the hole with your tongue. Therefore, have your dentist treat that hole with a filling before it becomes a root canal and crown procedure.

You Have a Broken or Lost Filling

While not often, a filling can loosen or break at times. If or when that happens, you could feel or see where it popped out. Otherwise, you’ll probably sense that something feels different about the affected tooth. See your dentist in that case, as they can replace the filling before bacteria invades the drilled cavity.

Which Type of Filling is Right for You?

Until recently, silver amalgam fillings were the popular go-to for treatment. Being sturdy, long-lasting, and cheaper than alternatives, dentists have used them for decades. Still, many note that they aren’t very pleasing to the eye.

Today, many prefer tooth-colored alternatives. Whether made of composite materials or porcelain, these fillings address your damaged teeth without calling attention to themselves. Plus, they usually preserve more of your tooth’s natural structure, are metal-free, and last for 10+ years with proper care.

Ultimately, the choice will be up to you and your dentist. Talk to your practice to find the kind that best meets the situation.

As you can see, not every oral problem needs dental fillings. Talk to your dentist to confirm your case if you experience the above symptoms.

About the Practice

Dr. Shiloh Lindsey is a dentist based in Fort Collins, CO, having earned her DDS from the University of Colorado’s School of Dentistry. Her peers have voted her “Best Dentist of Fr. Collins” for nearly twenty years, and she once served as the Larimer County Dental Society’s president. Over her career, she’s always valued ongoing education and made lifelong learning a priority. Dr. Lindsey can be reached by phone at (970)-221-3700.