A Tooth With a Missing Filling Needs To Be Treated By a Dentist

Fillings are a common method of dental repair used to address a tooth that has been distressed by a small area of tooth decay or a minor fracture. They are commonly cast from materials like gold, amalgam, composite-resin, or dental grade porcelain. They are cemented to the surrounding tooth enamel, with the intention that they repair the tooth for a long time.

Yet inconsistencies in your oral hygiene habits and the general passage of time can still affect the tooth enamel surrounding the filling. If the natural bacteria in your mouth manage to infiltrate the seam of the filling, it could potentially cause it to fall out.

Without timely treatment at Dr. Tim Garofolo’s San Diego, dental clinic, the exposed area could cause the tooth to suffer a severe fracture or come to foster a dangerously deep area of tooth decay. If the filling was small, or if the tooth is large, Dr. Tim Garofolo might be able to remove a small amount of tooth enamel and apply a new, slightly larger filling.

If it was a large filling, or if the decay has simply compromised too much of the enamel layer of the tooth, Dr. Tim Garofolo might recommend fitting the tooth for a crown. Once it has been cemented in place, the crown will restore the tooth for many years to come.

If you live in the San Diego area and you have lost a filling, you should call 858-451-2555 to have it treated at Dr. Tim Garofolo’s clinic.