Tooth pain that shows up specifically when you bite or chew is different from a constant ache. It tends to be sharp, sudden, and sometimes hard to pin down to a single tooth. That specificity is actually useful, because pain triggered by pressure usually points to one of a handful of causes that a dentist…

A filling falling out is startling, but it's not usually a dental emergency in the same way a knocked-out tooth or severe infection is. That said, it's not something to put off for weeks either. A lost filling leaves the tooth exposed and vulnerable, and the sooner a dentist evaluates it, the simpler the repair…

You finally decide to replace that missing tooth, submit a claim to your insurance, and get an unexpected denial. For a lot of patients, this is the first time they've ever heard the term missing tooth clause. It's confusing, and it can feel like the rug got pulled out from under a plan you were…

Fillings aren't meant to last forever, even though they can hold up for many years with proper care. Wondering how long yours will last, or noticing something feels different about an old filling, is a completely normal thing to think about.Here's a look at how long different filling materials typically last, the signs that point…