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Fillings

When Do Fillings Need Replacing?

Fillings – When Do Fillings Need Replacing?

A dental filling (also called a “dental restoration”) is intended to replace tooth structure lost to decay. Dental fillings may last many years, however, eventually all fillings need to be replaced. Constant assault from eating and drinking or stress from clenching or grinding, eventually may cause a dental filling to fail.

Fillings and Bacteria

Bacteria cause tooth decay. Fillings that have worn away, chipped, cracked or fallen out may leave gaps between the tooth and the filling that can provide an entry point for bacteria. Bacteria are abundant in the mouth and are commonly found in saliva and dental plaque (a thin film that forms on teeth and gums).

If the seal between the tooth and the filling breaks down, food particles and decay causing bacteria can work their way between the worn filling and the tooth. These bacteria can not be removed easily with a toothbrush or other means and decay may develop along the edge of the filling or underneath it. Decay that is undiagnosed and untreated can progress to infect the dental pulp (which contains the tooth’s nerve and blood supply), which often results in the need for root canal (endodontic) treatment or possibly loss of the tooth.

Fillings and Dental Visits

Regular dental examinations are important because problems with existing fillings generally can be detected in the early stage. Although you may not be able to tell that your filling is worn, participating dentists can identify any weaknesses in it during a regular check up.

During the examination, a participating dentist determines if the existing fillings are intact or if any have cracked or worn away. He or she uses an instrument called an explorer to gently detect any worn spots around the filling’s edge. The instrument will help a participating dentist determine if the dental filling is sealed to the tooth or if it is sufficiently worn and needs replacement. Dental radiographs (x-rays) may be taken to help detect decay under existing dental fillings or between teeth, neither of which can be seen simply by looking at the tooth.

If a participating dentist finds evidence that a filling has failed or detects decay on the radiograph, the dental filling should be replaced promptly. Don’t wait until the tooth hurts or a crack appears in the filling of the tooth. Early detection and treatment can minimise the need for extensive and costly procedures.

Choices for New Fillings

Advances in dental materials and techniques offer new ways to create more pleasing, natural looking smiles. Researchers are continuing their often decades long working in developing materials such as ceramic and plastic compounds that mimic the appearance of natural teeth. There are several types of tooth-coloured materials that can be used to repair damaged or decayed teeth.

Several factors influence the performance, durability, longevity and expense of dental fillings. These factors include the components in the filling material; where and how the filling is placed; the chewing load that the tooth must bear; and the length and number of visits needed to prepare and adjust the restored tooth.

Amalgam. Amalgam is composed of a mixture of silver, copper, tin and mercury all of which combine to form a strong and stable filling material. It is durable, easy to use, highly resistant to wear and relatively inexpensive compared with other materials.

Composite. Composite fillings are a mixture of acrylic resin and finely ground glasslike particles that produce a tooth-coloured restoration. Composite fillings provide durability and resistance to fracture in small-to-mid-sized restorations that need to withstand moderate chewing pressure.

Glass ionomers. Glass ionomers are tooth-coloured materials made of a mixture of fine fluoride-containing glass powder and organic acid that forms a solid restoration able to release fluoride.

Talk with a Participating Dentist

The ultimate decision about what to use is best determined by the patient in consultation with a participating dentist. Before your treatment begins, discuss the options.

If you enjoyed this article, you can read other similar articles by clicking on Your Oral Health.

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