Replacing Your Fillings

If you have had one or more fillings to fix tooth decay you should know that fillings don’t last forever. Fillings can last for as little as five years or they can last for more than fifteen years. Sometimes, but not often, fillings can come loose right away.

If you have had fillings you should be visiting your dentist at least annually so he can make sure your fillings are still doing their job. You may not even know that your fillings have become worn, cracked or are leaking.

In addition, fillings that are tooth colored can take on staining and yellow over time.

Fillings can wear down or become cracked simply from the daily pressures they are subjected too such as chewing. Biting down hard on a filling can cause it to fall out, and depending on where your filling is located, you may be putting more pressure on it than you realize just by every day chewing of your food.

Sometimes fillings are used to repair too big of a problem. This can cause the filling to fail. If this is the case, you may want to consider a crown instead of replacing with another filling.

Cracked or leaking fillings can cause major problems.? Debris from food and bacteria can enter under the filling and cause decay to occur beneath it. If this goes unchecked it can eventually lead to an abscessed tooth. Fillings can also leak if they are not fitted tightly against the tooth.

A filling that has fallen out is no longer protecting your tooth. This can lead to additional decay. If there is not enough of the tooth left to replace your filling due to new decay, a crown will have to be used to protect the tooth.

This is why it is so important to make sure you are receiving regular check -ups from your dentist. Often people are unaware that there is a problem with their fillings until it is too late and decay has already started to happen. Be proactive and protect your teeth by having regular check -ups.