Depending on the material, size, location and dental hygiene, a filling can last anywhere from 5 to 20 years. Since a filling is not part of your tooth, every time you eat, drink and brush your teeth, it loosens.
Gold. This type of filling is the most expensive but can also last the longest, up to 30 years, before needing to be replaced. In many cases, gold fillings will last for, on average, 15 years.
Permanent tooth fillings can last around 5-20 years or a lifetime. Their durability is affected by eating habits, tooth-grinding or jaw-clenching, and oral hygiene. Dental trauma to the filled tooth or decay around the filling can reduce the longevity of fillings.
Dental fillings that are made of metal or gold materials are known to last upwards of 20 years. On the flip side, more modern materials such as porcelain should also last a while, however, typically, not more than 10 years.
Most adults will need to have one or more of them replaced during their lifetime. There is no set timeline for when dental fillings need to be replaced. Dentists do not typically remove old fillings just because they are a certain age. Instead, they consider the filling material and the patient's dental habits.
Over time, fillings can wear out, chip, crack, or even fall out altogether. And when a filling fails, it leaves an open space for food and bacteria to enter. As a result, tooth decay can develop underneath the filling or in place of where the filling once was.
If your filling is in good condition and your dentist or health care professional says there is no decay beneath the filling, removal of your amalgam filling is not recommended.
Fillings can become damaged or loose for a variety of reasons. Fillings are not intended to last forever. The bond that holds the metal or composite resin in place will eventually weaken over time. This process may occur more quickly if patients grind their teeth at night.
The lifespan of a filling depends on a number of factors. The first factor is what the filling is made of; gold fillings can often survive for 15 to 30 years. Amalgam has an average lifespan of 10 to 15 years, while composite fillings may only last five to seven years.
While dental fillings are strong and durable, they do still wear out over time. You will probably need to have your filling replaced a few times throughout your life, and it isn't necessarily cause for concern. A failed dental filling should not cause you to be skeptical of dental fillings moving forward.
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.
Cavities are one of the most common health problems. Over 90% of adults in the US have had at least one cavity in their mouth. On average, adult patients have had around 3-4 cavities in their lifetime.
Old fillings will eventually crack and break. If you have a chipped amalgam filling, food particles and bacteria will seep into the healthy part of the tooth. Once that happens, new decay will form. It is impossible to brush or floss under old fillings so once the debris is there, it is there for good.
In general, adults develop an average of three cavities during their lifetimes. This means that the average adult has three or four fillings in their mouth. Some patients end up with ten or more fillings depending on how well they care for their teeth.
Amalgam fillings last longer and outperform other types of filling materials, such as composite fillings, especially in the back teeth. At High Street Dentistry, we see patients with functional and damage-free amalgam fillings that have been in place for more than 30 or 40 years.
A filling is relatively easy to place and effectively treats tooth decay. While the treatment is irreversible and very durable, it is not permanent; a filling will likely need replacing at some point in the future.
The majority of deep fillings can be treated successfully without resulting in sensitivity and do not require root canal treatments.
Unfortunately, even with a filling in place, your tooth is still susceptible to developing decay underneath the filling. This is known as recurrent decay, and while it might not be as common as primary decay, it can still cause a lot of problems for your smile.
Insufficient oral hygiene. The quickest way to welcome cavities is to slack on dental care. Not brushing or flossing regularly, and not using mouthwash or brushing your tongue will leave your teeth vulnerable to decay. Brushing your teeth for less than two minutes each time can also lead to cavities.
There is no predetermined number of times you can replace dental fillings. Generally, dentists refuse to replace dental fillings if the cavity expands to become too large. Your tooth loses integrity every time you must have the tooth-filling material replaced.
Cavities that develop quickly and unexpectedly may be the result of: Sudden Dietary Changes: You might have changed your diet in some way, including drinking more soda, adding more sugar to your coffee, eating more starchy or acidic foods, or consuming more sweets.
The Removal Process
Before removal begins, you will be connected to an alternate air supply so you do not inhale any vapors as the filling is removed. The dentist will use a small tool to break up the existing filling and the suction to remove the vapors and particles from your mouth.
Do dental fillings hurt when they're replaced? Dental fillings should never hurt when they're replaced since patients will always be given a local anaesthetic to ease any discomfort.