How Often Do You Need to Replace Composite Fillings?

Tooth decay is a significant threat to your oral health. Despite cavities being preventable, they represent the biggest threat to children and adults, with approximately 92 percent of adults having one hole in permanent teeth, according to the CDC. If you have a cavity in your tooth, you might have received dental fillings in El Dorado Hills, CA, to restore the tooth. Fillings are effective and a long-term solution for your oral health. However, do fillings need replacements? Here is what you must know to ensure the health and strength of your tooth remain in optimal shape.

How Long Do Fillings Last in Teeth?

Dental fillers help fill a polluted area in a tooth. In addition, the filler stops the decay from spreading to restore the tooth’s strength. Although dental fillers need replacements, eventually, they will last for several years. Depending on the filling material in your tooth, here is the duration you can expect your restoration to remain in your tooth.

• Silver Amalgam Fillings: Conventional dental fillings like silver amalgam fillers are made from an amalgamation of metals. The effectiveness and durability of these fillers are undisputed, having been in use for over a century. Generally, amalgam fillings last for about 15 years before needing replacements. However, longevity can vary depending on several factors, including the practice of clenching and grinding your teeth.
• Composite Fillings: an amalgamation of plastic particles and fine glass helps make tooth-colored composite fillings. The filling material is customized to match your tooth enamel to blend with your smile. Although composite fillers don’t contain metal, they are incredibly durable, with a lifespan of five to seven years before needing replacements. However, with appropriate care, you can extend the longevity of composite fillers for over a decade.

Which Dental Filling Is Best for Your Teeth?

The filling material best suited for your teeth depends on the area of the decay, the severity of the damage, the dentist’s expertise, and your budget. For example, if you have a cavity on an anterior tooth, the El Dorado Hills dentist suggests getting tooth-colored composite resin or porcelain fillings after considering your aesthetic needs and budget.

On the other hand, if a cavity has created sufficient damage to your molar, the dentist suggests metal fillings made from silver or gold as best for the hole. In addition, you can prefer to have indirect fillings made from composite resin or porcelain called inlays that are incredibly durable and will remain in your tooth for over 10 to 20 years with proper care. However, getting indirect fillings requires you to arrange two appointments with the dentist and endure a temporary tooth filling in your tooth because indirect fillings need fabrication from a dental laboratory to fit correctly in the tooth and restore aesthetics and functionality.

Why Do Fillings Need Replacements?

There are many reasons why your fillings might require replacements over time. Daily wear and tear is most often the primary culprit. Your fillings sustain the pressure of chewing and biting as you eat. Over time the forces crack your fillers to make them leak or fall out. If your filler doesn’t protect your tooth as required, your mouth bacteria and food particles remain trapped beneath. Therefore it makes filling replacements essential to prevent additional decay.

Composite fillings tend to discolor from the foods and beverages you have, making them stick out like a sore thumb. The discoloration might make you think the filling needs replacement to ensure it blends seamlessly with your smile.

Indicators That Your Fillings Need Replacements

If your dental filling doesn’t function as it should, you might experience tooth pain and sensitivity. If you are stringent with your dental hygiene practices and see your dentist at six monthly intervals, the professional can detect loose or leaking fillings to suggest replacing them at the earliest. However, dental fillings can loosen to fall out from the pressures of biting and chewing or start leaking to cause pain and sensitivity. In such situations, it’s best to contact your dentist immediately to have your tooth examined. The professionals will determine whether you need filling replacements or other necessary treatments to protect your oral health.

All filling materials have a lifespan and eventually need replacements when they start leaking or loosen the fallout. Composite fillings are similar and need replacements in approximately a decade even after providing excellent care.

If your dental fillings have loosened or leaking, El Dorado Hills Town Dental Center provides different types of dental fillers to restore them. Consult with the practice today to fill your tooth immediately to prevent additional problems.