Why you may need a filling

Fillings are not just for teeth with cavities. Your dentist may place a filling in other situations.

Cavities

Indeed, cavities remain at the top of the list for reasons dentists give their patients fillings. But still, not all cavities need to be filled, some will actually repair themselves and your dentist will simply watch over it. but a word of caution here; only leave a cavity unfilled if it recommended by your dentist as putting off necessary dental work will increase treatment costs and probably complicate your life.

Fracture

There are several scenarios in which a fractured tooth can be repaired with a composite filling material. So don’t get too discouraged if you happen to fracture your tooth, it might be an easier fix than what you expect.

Loss of Structure

When you fracture a tooth, you lose tooth structure very quickly, but there are other ways in which tooth structure can be lost. For example, grinding your teeth at night while you sleep is one way you can lose tooth structure. When this happens, your dentist might have to use a composite filling material to fix it.

Discoloration

If you suffer from tooth discoloration your dentist might recommend filling that will cover up the stains.

Old Fillings

Over time, older fillings may have to be replaced. White fillings might become discolored and silver fillings may crack, which is reason enough to have them replaced.

Prior to/in place of a Permanent Crown

After a dentist performs a root canal, a dentist needs to place a permanent crown in most situations. A dentist may place a temporary filling as a place holder. A dentist may also determine a crown is not needed if there is enough tooth structure. In this case, a filling would be placed.

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