Most people will experience a cavity at some point or another in their life. When a tooth develops a cavity, the easiest way to treat it is by removing the decay and sealing it with a dental filling. A dental filling is just what the name suggests: it’s a plug of material that fills in the hole (cavity) in your tooth. Unfortunately, dental fillings don’t last forever, and eventually need to be replaced.
Find out how long your dental fillings will last and what happens when a Los Gatos dentist replaces them.
How Long Do Dental Fillings Last?
The lifespan of your dental fillings depends heavily on what type of material they’re made of. For instance, gold fillings are expected to last 15 to 30 years, amalgam fillings 10 to 15 years, and porcelain and ceramic fillings 10 to 15 years. Composite fillings have the shortest lifespan. They may last between 5 to 7 years and less if placed in a cavity that is too large. Your fillings can last longer than these averages, but they will eventually need a replacement. At Top Down Dental, our Los Gatos dentist provides our patients with porcelain and composite fillings.
Although tooth-colored fillings don’t last as long as gold or amalgam fillings, they look more natural, don’t offer concerns about mercury, and provide your teeth with the strength they need.
When Does a Dentist Need to Replace a Dental Filling?
Just because it’s been 10 years since you got a filling doesn’t mean we will replace it. Usually, our dentist only replaces a dental filling for certain reasons.
- Filling falls out – If your filling falls out, this is one of the first reasons a dentist would replace it. It’s important to replace it sooner rather than later so that bacteria don’t infiltrate the tooth. If your filling falls out, contact Top Down Dental immediately to get a replacement.
- Your dental filling cracks – If your dental filling cracks, you might only notice temperature sensitivity. Some patients don’t know until they visit a Los Gatos dentist for a routine cleaning and see it on an x-ray. We will replace a cracked filling.
- Your tooth cracks – Fillings–especially large fillings–can weaken your tooth. This can lead to tooth cracking, especially if combined with an unbalanced bite. In addition, the thermal expansion and contraction of metal amalgam fillings can crack your tooth.
- Your dental filling leaks – It’s possible for it to leak after it’s been placed. One sign of this is temperature sensitivity, which lasts longer than three weeks. If you experience temperature sensitivity after we place a dental filling, please let us know so we can fix it.
- Your filling wears out—At some point, your dental filling will give out and become too worn to protect your tooth. During routine exams, our dentist will check on your existing fillings to make sure they’re still in good shape or determine if they need a replacement.
- You experience side effects – Sometimes, people experience allergic or other systemic reactions to metal fillings, especially metal amalgam fillings, which contain toxic mercury. These reactions take the form of mysterious illnesses that doctors can’t explain but resolve once the allergic irritant (the fillings) is removed.
- Your filling is unattractive – Many people find traditional metal fillings unattractive. Although gold is fancy in jewelry, you may not like its look in your teeth. Silver fillings typically turn black when rusting, making them look even worse than the cavity they filled. Composite fillings are also vulnerable to staining from dark-colored foods and beverages.
How to Extend the Life of Your Fillings
There are many things you can do to ensure that your fillings last longer. Often, this means taking better care of your teeth themselves. Here are some tips to get long-lasting dental fillings.
- Choose your dentist carefully: Experienced, well-trained dentists know how to place properly fitting fillings more likely to last longer. They also know which fillings will work best in different situations, so they’ll match you with the right filling for your cavity.
- Brush regularly, but not too much: Brushing your teeth helps you avoid cavities, but overbrushing can be bad for your teeth–and sometimes even worse for your fillings. Using abrasive toothpaste multiple times a day can wear your tooth away and seriously erode composite fillings, which are softer than your tooth enamel.
- Reduce consumption of acidic foods and drinks: The good news is that most fillings are more resistant to acids than your natural tooth enamel. However, consuming too much acid can wear away the enamel around the fillings, which creates places where oral bacteria can collect and attack your teeth, damaging the margins that secure the filling.
- Don’t use your teeth as tools: Use your teeth for chewing food, not as scissors, pliers, nutcrackers, or bottle openers. Doing so can put your teeth under destructive stress. A tooth with a filling is weakened, and the stress can cause the tooth or the filling to crack or fail.
How Many Times Can a Dentist Replace a Single Filling?
There is no single number of how many times you can have a filling replaced. Usually, we will stop replacing the dental filling after the hole becomes too large. Once you have more filling material than natural tooth material, your tooth no longer holds enough strength. In this instance, you might need an inlay, onlay, or dental crown to protect your tooth. You might also need a restoration instead of filling replacement if your tooth has several fillings in the same tooth. Unless you have sufficient tooth structure, a dentist can’t just replace dental fillings every single time.
Do you need a dental filling or dental filling replacement in Los Gatos? Contact Top Down Dental at (408) 354-5600 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Nancy Nehawandian, DDS today.
