A filling is used to treat an area of decay. It stops it from spreading and restores the tooth's strength. Although a filling will last for several years, it won't last forever.
While dental fillings can last for many years, sadly, they do not last forever. Eventually, all fillings need to be replaced due to constant stress from eating and drinking, and especially from tooth clenching and grinding. Over time, fillings can wear out, chip, crack, or even fall out altogether.
Fillings usually don't last a lifetime, so getting regular dental checkups can help you determine when a filling might have to be replaced.
When Will I have to Replace my Filling? Usually, a filling will last anywhere from 7-20 years, although this depends on the location of the filling, the size, and your dental hygiene. Fillings put up with a lot of stress! Every time you chew, your filling is compromised.
A patient with resin fillings may need to replace the fillings every seven to 10 years. Silver or amalgam fillings are also popular due to their durability and affordability, lasting an average of 15 years. Gold fillings are less popular because they are more expensive. However, gold fillings can last the longest.
While dental filling material has improved over the last few decades, fillings are still softer than the enamel the surrounding tooth is composed of. This means they may not be able to survive the same forces of chewing and biting as the natural enamel.
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.
Those that are too deep or too large may require a more intensive treatment. Once bacteria have entered your tooth, it may be too late for a filling because we will need to prevent or treat an existing infection. However, it's never too late for dental care!
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.
You Need To Get A Filling Even If You Don't Feel Pain Or Discomfort. The answer is “yes.” If you have a cavity, you need to have it filled as soon as possible, even if you don't feel pain or discomfort. In most cases, cavities do not cause any pain until they're very deep and large.
Fillings are designed to restore teeth that have been damaged by decay. This treatment also prevents future decay and stops bacteria from furthering deteriorating your tooth. Prior to treatment, your dentist will have to determine which material is best suited for the filling.
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. Fillings are often placed in molars where bruxism can cause significant damage.
Dental Filling Costs
The dental filling cost ranges between $115 and $300 in Australia. If the filling cost is out of your budget, you can check to see if dental fillings cover your private insurance. The dental filling cost has several tangible factors linked to it. Let's look at what they are.
If left untreated, the cavity will become large, forcing the tooth to decay on a greater scale, and a root canal treatment or tooth extraction may be the only way to resolve the problem.
It is okay to choose to replace fillings at any time, however, there are some considerations. Any time a filling is replaced more tooth structure is removed weakening the tooth.
Older working-age adults 50 to 64 years had the greatest prevalence of decay (96%) in both NHANES cycles. Decay is more prevalent in people who currently smoke compared with those who never or formerly smoked.
So while permanent tooth loss can occur at any age as an adult, significant averages in partial and total tooth loss tend to occur in people aged 50 years old and above.
Among children aged 6 to 8 years, over half (52%) have had a cavity in their primary (baby) teeth. Children from low-income families are twice as likely to have untreated cavities as higher-income children. Among adolescents aged 12 to 19, more than half (57%) have had a cavity in their permanent teeth.
Sipping on soda or snacking frequently can all be culprits of an increase in cavities. A sore throat or the flu: Sucking on cough drops all day long are a common culprit of cavities that people don't know about. Not enough brushing and flossing: This one goes without saying. Below is the proper brushing technique.
Usually, the recommended maximum amount of time between dental appointments is six months. However, your dentist in Fairfax may recommend that certain people visit more often, including those who are at higher risk of developing dental problems such as: Pregnant women.
Not cleaning your teeth well, frequent snacking and sipping sugary drinks are the main culprits behind cavities. Cavities are permanently damaged areas in the hard surface of your teeth that develop into tiny openings or holes.
White fillings don't last as long as silver fillings, and on average sustain for about 7-10 years. Nonetheless, they're still an incredibly strong, successful treatment for most cavities.
The dentist can remove an amalgam filling using an evacuator. This piece of equipment is a powerful suction system that can remove mercury vapors and amalgam particles. An evacuator must always be turned on during the removal of an amalgam dental filling.
Dental Fillings FAQs
Technically there is no limit to home many fillings can be given at a time. However, we do not recommend doing more than four at one time.
Composite fillings are made from a resin designed to match the color of tooth enamel. They aren't as noticeable as metal fillings, but they are less durable. Composite fillings may cost between $150 to $300 for 1–2 teeth or $200 to $550 for 3 or more teeth.