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Posted on 12/30/2019 by Aghera |
 Most people assume that when they have a cavity filled, it's taken care of forever unless the filling cracks or falls out. However, that's not the case. It's possible for another cavity to form around, beside, or under the filling you currently have. This can be even more dangerous than a normal cavity, and if you suspect it's happened, you need to come have us look at the tooth in question right away. How Does This Happen? Unfortunately, all it takes is a very tiny opening to allow bacteria to get in under a filling. If you've lost a little bit of that filling or if it wasn't installed correctly, it's possible that there's space for bacteria to grow and form plaque. Once this happens, the cavity that starts to form can easily spread. You can't get your toothbrush or floss down through these tiny holes to remove the bacteria. Even mouthwash may not be able to get into these spaces. This means there's nothing stopping the cavity from growing under the filling. You may never realize what's happening until it's too late. What Can You Do to Prevent This?The best thing you can do to prevent these types of cavities is to take care of your teeth. Brush regularly, and do a visual inspection of any fillings you have using a mirror. You also need to see us every six months for a checkup and professional cleaning. If you suspect you have a cavity under a filling, tell us about it. We have several different tools we can use to examine the tooth and determine if there's a cavity under the filling. Remember, just because there's no pain or any sign of a cavity doesn't mean one hasn't formed. Give us a call today to schedule your next regular cleaning and exam if you haven't already done so. |
