Fillings are a common means of restoring damaged teeth, and with proper maintenance they may last years before needing replacement. But eventually all dental fillings fail and need replacing.
Failed fillings can leave a gap that allows bacteria to build up in your tooth, leading to decay that requires root canal treatment. Luckily, there are ways you can decrease the chances of filling failure.
Causes
Dental fillings are one of the main treatments used to restore damaged teeth. After hardening and cementing, they will remain in place; however, they should eventually need replacing due to bacteria accumulation which causes further damage to surrounding tooth structures resulting in long lasting toothache or more comprehensive treatments being necessary.
Fillings serve to restore tooth structure lost through decay and protect it from oral bacteria, but a failed filling cannot do either of these things, leaving the tooth vulnerable to further structural damage and more serious decay due to bacteria. A study discovered several lifestyle variables linked to increased chances of failing fillings; drinking and smoking were two notable ones, while researchers discovered a genetic variance associated with higher failure rates among some patients based on matrix metalloproteinase genes.
Symptoms
Modern fillings are generally very durable, but if you experience discomfort, pain or sensitivity from one that has a filling it’s important to notify your dentist right away. Pain may arise as decay under the filling reappears exposing nerve endings causing pain with hot or cold foods.
One of the telltale signs of failed fillings is visible damage such as cracks or chips in your filling, discoloration around it, loose fillings and an unpleasant taste in your mouth. To reduce these problems, good dental hygiene should include daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste, flossing regularly and using antibacterial mouthwash; additionally, visiting your dentist regularly for exams and cleanings will allow him/her to identify early signs of decay or wear in both teeth and fillings that could become major problems down the road.
Treatment
Good oral hygiene ensures a longer lifespan for most tooth fillings; however, factors can accelerate their decline and expose teeth to further decay; such as excessive chewing pressure, clenching and grinding (bruxism), as well as frequent hot and cold food consumption.
If a tooth’s filling has broken, the best course of action is to have it replaced immediately; failing to do so leaves the tooth vulnerable to further decay, infection and potential tooth loss.
Failing fillings may cause pain, visible cracks or chips, bad taste in the mouth and brown or black staining around teeth. To reduce the need for fillings in the first place, daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste, flossing regularly and visiting your dentist for regular checkups is recommended. In addition, resin infiltration may be used by some dentists to fill very small cavities without drilling or extracting tooth structure.
Prevention
Failure of fillings exposes teeth to bacteria-filled environments and decay, leading to bad breath and an unpleasant taste in the mouth. Furthermore, this damage may compromise tooth structure requiring further intensive treatments such as root canal.
Tooth sensitivity is another side effect of failing fillings. When the seal between tooth and filling breaks down, food particles can easily get trapped between them and expose dentin layers to hot or cold foods causing temperature changes that result in pain-inducing temperature changes and changes.
Good oral hygiene is key in avoiding filling failure, including regular brushing with fluoride toothpaste and flossing regularly. Furthermore, hard or sticky foods that could dislodge dental fillings or shorten their lifespan should be avoided and regular check-ups with your dentist will allow him/her to detect issues early and address them before becoming more serious.
