Most people don’t think of fillings as an emergency. They usually have some discomfort in the mouth, go to the dentist, and are told they need a filling. The fillings are placed and they go home. For most people it’s generally a fairly relaxed situation. But the unexpected truth is that fillings are one of the most common reasons people see an emergency dentist.
There are several reasons you might need to see an emergency dentist in San Diego for filling-related issues. These include:
Getting a Filling
This might seem a bit obvious, but some fillings do need to be done fairly urgently. When pain is severe or an injury has damaged the tooth, it’s important to get the situation fixed rapidly. An emergency filling can save a lot of pain and stress later on.
Lost Fillings
Fillings are there for a reason — they restore function to the tooth, prevent further decay, and prevent the inner pulp of the tooth from getting infected. When a filling falls out, it’s important to get it replaced as quickly as possible.
The longer a filling is missing, the more likely you are to damage the tooth further or get an infection. If you wait too long to get a filling, you may need a much more time-consuming and expensive treatment plan later. That why we recommend having your lost filling replaced as soon as possible.
Decay Requires Filling
Decay can lead to an emergency filling for two reasons:
While fillings help prevent damage and decay, they can only do so much. Without proper care, you will get decay sooner or later. When you get decay, it’s necessary to make sure the filling is redone to properly protect the new size and shape of the cavity.
Old Fillings Need Replacing
Over the course of many years it may be necessary to replace an older filling with a new one. This can be for a variety of reasons, such as decay widening the cavity, injury, or even the filling itself no longer fitting properly and threatening to damage the tooth.
In all of these cases, it’s better to get the filling replaced the moment you know there’s an issue.
Prevent Problems Before They Start
This is the single biggest reason fillings might need emergency dentist attention. A filling is a relatively quick, affordable dental treatment. It might seem a bit time consuming to get to the dentist, and many people don’t like the dental chair. But the alternative to not going to a dentist is always more painful, more time consuming, and in most cases, more expensive.
Don’t risk putting yourself in any more pain or discomfort than you need to be. Get your fillings treated any time day or night with PB Dental Care, your 24 hour emergency dentists in San Diego.