Cracked or chipped fillings should be the telltale signs that it needs replacing, while discoloration of teeth could indicate its failure.
Constant or intermittent pain that persists over time could be an indication that decay has affected the nerve beneath your dental filling, necessitating root canal treatment.
1. Damaged Tooth Structure
Failing fillings allow bacteria into the tooth through cracks or gaps, potentially resulting in pain and discomfort for you as they cause decay.
If the filling is causing discomfort, you should make an appointment with your dentist immediately. Delaying treatment could result in additional damage that necessitates more extensive dental work – possibly including root canal therapy or even tooth extraction.
Damage to a filling itself is the clearest indicator that it has failed. Chewing hard or crunchy foods, teeth grinding/clenching/trauma and dental trauma all increase the likelihood of filling failure and necessitate replacing it sooner rather than later.
2. Loose Filling
Once a filling becomes loose, its delicate structures may become vulnerable to painful stimuli like pressure and temperature extremes. As such, further treatment such as root canal or crown treatment will often be required.
An additional sign that a tooth has lost its protective seal is when bacteria-causing decay or food debris gather in its place where there once was filling material. Over time this will cause it to break apart and eventually fall out altogether.
Researchers have recently observed that variations between patients – their lifestyle choices and genetic makeup all play a part in determining whether composite fillings work or fail. More specifically, differences in MMP2 genes were linked with filling failure – these discoveries will impact future filling design efforts.
3. Cracked Filling
Sensitivity to hard foods, teeth grinding during sleep or day, or simply age and wear can all lead to cracked fillings that compromise sensitivity, pain, or cause rough feelings on the tongue, signalling their existence. A cracked filling may also become evident by sudden pain when biting or chewing and/or feeling on the tongue when biting or chewing or when biting/chewing becomes difficult or causes discomfort on biting/chewing movements.
Cracked fillings must be repaired promptly to reduce bacterial infection and further damage to the tooth. A dentist can repair cracked fillings through bonding – using plastic resin to cover and restore any missing tooth structure – but in cases where cracks extend deeper or extend into the pulp of the tooth, root canal therapy or dental crown may be required to address underlying damage. Regular dental check-ups and X-rays provide timely detection of cracked fillings so you can avoid more extensive and expensive treatments in the future.
4. Loose Bonding
Though rare, bondings may sometimes lose their adhesion and fall off, which could be the result of improper tooth preparation or defects in the bonding material itself. Furthermore, this may happen if patients use their bonded teeth as tools such as biting nails or opening packages with them.
Loose bonding can cause significant discomfort, particularly if it affects front teeth that receive less biting force than molars. Luckily, it isn’t considered an urgent dental matter and most dentists can easily replace any lost bonding.
To protect the bonding material in your filling from becoming loose, it’s essential that you brush regularly around its area with a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste. Furthermore, floss daily in order to eliminate plaque build-up and avoid dislodging further bonding material.
5. Infection
if a filling fails, bacteria can get trapped under it and cause decay that leads to abscess or infection requiring more extensive oral treatment.
Failing dental fillings may make chewing, drinking and eating hot, cold, sweet or savory foods uncomfortable and could indicate that they have loosed or have an unusual texture.
Frontiers in Medicine researchers recently investigated factors that may contribute to the failure of composite and amalgam fillings. After two years post procedure, their investigation showed that alcohol drinking patients and male smokers experienced significantly higher rates of filling failure than nondrinkers or smokers – underscoring the significance of maintaining healthy lifestyle habits such as brushing, flossing and visiting your dentist regularly for regular check-ups and cleanings for maintaining optimal oral health.
