Many people have a hard time remembering to brush twice a day or to floss each day. However, neglecting your oral hygiene can allow bacteria to linger in your mouth, causing a build-up of chronic plaque acids. This acidic environment could be exacerbated by frequently consuming acidic beverages.
If it persists, your tooth enamel could become weakened. This could come in the form of increasing tooth sensitivity, newly developed cavities, or a modest degradation of a dental filling’s bond with the surrounding tooth enamel.
As a dental filling begins to fail, you might experience a noticeable change in the surface texture, discomfort in the tooth when biting down, or sensitivity localized to the repaired tooth.
In a situation like this, you need to have the tooth examined by a dentist like Dr. Thomas Hirsch. After performing a basic examination of the tooth, he can help you understand your treatment options.
If there isn’t sufficient healthy tooth enamel remaining to secure a replacement filling, Dr. Thomas Hirsch might suggest a dental crown. This will essentially replicate the entire tooth enamel layer with a strong dental material.
This mode of treatment calls for altering the tooth’s natural enamel layer. This leaves behind a small post of dentin, which is known as an abutment. It will eventually anchor the dental crown in your mouth. When the dental crown has been constructed, our dentist will cement it onto the dental abutment.
If you live in Malibu, California, and you have a tooth with a sensitive dental filling, please call 310-456-3363 to have it examined at our office.