Signs You Need a Dental Filling: When to See Your Dentist

It doesn’t take much experience to understand that the majority of our patients visit us only when they have an actual problem. We realize it perfectly. Life is too hectic, visits to a dentist near you are never on top of the priority list, and if there are no problems, then why not leave it till next month?

However, here is what we have seen after treating hundreds of patients for dental fillings in Gilbert, AZ. Those who visited us early have only a small treatment. Those who waited often find themselves having to do far more than they expected.

Let’s figure out what your mouth is trying to say to you.

Is Tooth Sensitivity a Sign You Need a Dental Filling?

Remember that sharp sensation you feel whenever you drink something ice cold or sip hot coffee? You shrug it off quickly enough and then go about your business, right? This is what our dentist in Gilbert, AZ, hears quite often from our patients: “Oh, I just have sensitive teeth.” Sometimes, it’s true. Sometimes, it isn’t.

When there is early decay developing in a tooth, it's hard outer layer begins to erode away. Beneath it lies a soft layer called dentin, which contains hundreds of microchannels leading directly to the tooth’s nerve.

As soon as those microchannels become accessible, any change in temperature will reach the nerve almost instantly. That sharp pain that passes after a couple of seconds is the signal from your tooth to let you know something needs to be done.

The decay isn’t going away by itself anytime soon. Unlike skin cells, the tooth enamel won’t repair itself on its own. Getting things fixed quickly will save your tooth from further trouble.

Early Signs That a Cavity May Need a Filling

We always make sure that our patients check out their teeth from time to time. Not all the time, of course, but occasionally, while brushing, under a nice light source. This is what needs attention:

●      Dark spots on the biting surface: In most cases, brown/black spots on molars, which cannot be brushed away, are decay, and not just discoloration.

●      Persistent food entrapment in a particular place: Meat or bread that always gets stuck in a specific location each time you eat suggests that the enamel got compromised.

●      An uneven edge, which you did not observe last month: The tongue is surprisingly sensitive and able to notice even the slightest change, which is normally an indication of a cracked/collapsed tooth structure.

Such symptoms develop before any pain. The good news is, it gives you a chance to do something before it gets worse.

Don't Wait Until a Cavity Starts Hurting

We would like to challenge a perception held by many people, that the lack of pain implies the lack of a problem.

By the time a cavity is giving you a persistent, throbbing pain, particularly during nighttime hours, the decay will have most likely progressed inside the tooth to its nerve (pulp).

At that point, a root canal procedure is what we are dealing with, as opposed to merely filling the tooth. The cost, time, and pain involved in performing a root canal compared to dental fillings near you are really quite different.

We are not scaring anyone. But we just wish patients visited a dentist in Gilbert, AZ, while it could still be an easy process. Fixing a small cavity is always quicker, easier, and less expensive.

What Getting a Filling Actually Looks Like

A lot of people carry old-school ideas about dental fillings in Gilbert, AZ. Maybe they had fillings placed years ago with metal materials and remember the experience as unpleasant. Things have changed quite a bit since then.

At Higley Dental Care, we use tooth-colored composite resin now, which matches the look of natural enamel so well that most patients can't spot the filling even when they're looking for it. Here's how the whole process goes:

1. Complete anesthesia is applied, so the patient should not feel any discomfort during the procedure itself.

2. Decay tissues are removed from the tooth, and its healthy parts are thoroughly cleaned.

3. Composite resin is put in the tooth in layers and adjusted to your real bite.

4. Curing light makes the material hard almost immediately.

5. The tooth surface is polished and becomes smooth.

Why Regular Cleanings Matter More Than People Realize

Many early cavities actually give you absolutely no signs. No sensitivity, no spots. They live in the interproximal areas, which cannot be brushed away by your toothbrush. During a regular cleaning appointment, we detect them using our digital imaging technology before they turn into bigger and harder-to-tackle problems.

Early detection of a cavity allows our dentist near you to do minimal drilling and get everything done quicker and cheaper. If there is something that is bothering you lately, like an uneven surface, your tooth being sensitive to cold, or foods getting stuck in one place, take care of it right now!

Call us or schedule an online appointment for dental fillings near you in around thirty seconds. We also have a package for $59, which consists of examination, cleaning, and X-rays for those without insurance. Small problems are fixable. Let us catch yours while it's still small.