What to Do About Worn Away Dental Fillings

Getting dental fillings at a dentist’s appointment is not an uncommon occurrence. This is an effective way to treat cavities and make a tooth whole once more. While fillings do a good job of sealing a tooth, they do not last forever. Eventually, your filling will start to wear away. When this happens, your dentist can restore it or use a new material to repair the tooth.

The filling process

Many patients will know they have a cavity before the dentist detects it. Tooth pain and sensitivity to heat or cold are indications of decay. To relieve these problems, the dentist will numb the patient’s mouth and drill into the affected tooth. The dentist then cleans the decay and rinses out the area to disinfect it. To fill the hole, the dentist will use a variety of materials, usually composite or silver amalgam.

How fillings deteriorate

Silver amalgam fillings can last up to 15 years or more, while composite fillings should last around 10. The life span of dental fillings depends on how well the patient takes care of their teeth. Pressure on the fillings is one of the most common reasons for wear. Patients who have the habit of grinding teeth may wear out the filling faster. Years of chewing, especially hard foods and objects, can break or crack fillings as well.

Damaging the tooth could damage the filling too. A hard blow to the face can fracture a tooth and do the same to the filling. Age, as well as wear and tear, can cause the filling to simply fall out. Sometimes, the seal between the enamel and the filling can become weak. This allows bacteria to get inside and wear out the filling. This could also lead to an infection.

What to do next

A patient may not even know that a filling has fallen out or deteriorated. Regular visits to the dentist are critical for this reason. At a checkup, the dentist will examine all the patient’s teeth, including dental fillings. If the dentist detects that the fillings are worn out, the patient can get new ones.

If a patient realizes that there are problems with any fillings, it is critical to get to the dentist’s office right away. A broken or worn-out filling can allow decay or infection to develop in the tooth once again. The dentist may refill the tooth with a different material. Or, if necessary, the dentist may have to place a crown over the affected tooth.

Take care of your dental fillings

You need your teeth every day of your life. If you neglect good oral hygiene, you will likely have cavities and other issues. Fillings can solve tooth pain concerns and other dental conditions. When the fillings start to wear out, make sure you inform your dentist. Regular brushing and flossing will go a long way toward extending their life span. When you realize you need new fillings, call your dentist and make an appointment to get the necessary replacements.

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