When Would I Need a Filling?

Fillings are simply restorations we use to treat cavities, which are small holes in your tooth’s enamel. They consist of tooth-colored porcelain, ceramic, or other metals, including silver amalgam and gold. Getting a filling is easy: We numb your tooth, clean it out, and fill it with the material. 

Determining when you need a filling isn’t as simple. Often, cavities go incognito — not seen by the naked eye — but can’t hide from our digital X-rays. 

At Los Gatos Family Dental, Dr. Tyler Young offers comprehensive care to new and existing patients throughout Santa Clara County. Here, they explain how to spot the signs that you might need a filling.

A word about tooth decay

You call them cavities, dentists call them caries, but whatever you call them, they’re all tooth decay. Eating sugary foods, snacking, poor brushing and flossing habits, and drinking sweetened beverages can all contribute to tooth decay, and here’s why:

Plaque builds up

Your mouth is full of bacteria, and every time you eat, so do they. They especially love sugar and starchy foods, when the bacteria gorge themselves and multiply. If you don’t rinse or brush away the bacteria, they unite and form a sticky film called plaque that covers your teeth. Over time, plaque hardens into tartar, which is even harder to remove.

Decay sets in

Plaque is acidic and the enemy of your enamel, the hard outer shell of your teeth. It eats away at the surface, forming a cavity, and eventually works toward the next tooth layer called the dentin. Tiny tubes in the dentin can send pain signals to the tooth’s nerve, so you may feel pain when you have a cavity.

Deeper problems develop

If you don’t seek treatment for your cavity, the decay progresses to the next layer, the tooth’s inner pulp. This section contains blood vessels and nerves; when they become infected, you may need a root canal to clean the decay and save the tooth. 

Types of cavities

Cavities can form on any tooth, but they typically come in one of three types:

• Coronal cavities occur on the chewing surface or in between teeth
• Root cavities occur past the gum line, usually when gums recede and expose the root
• Recurrent cavities appear around the edges of existing fillings and crowns

We use digital X-rays to pinpoint the precise location and size of your cavity, so we can clear away the decay and fill it to prevent further damage.

Signs you may need a filling

Most cavities are painless in their early stages and have no symptoms to warn you of the coming damage, but here are a few signs that a cavity may be developing:

• One tooth is sensitive to hot and cold temperatures
• Your dental floss shreds 
• You have a spot where food always gets stuck
• An old filling is cracked or missing
• Your tooth has a dark spot 
• You have a chipped or broken tooth
• You feel pain when you chew

It’s best to see us twice yearly to prevent cavities, but if you experience any of these symptoms, call our friendly staff or use our online scheduling form to make an appointment with our Los Gatos Family Dental team today. Getting a filling now prevents serious complications later.