An Important but Often Overlooked Detail of Dental Fillings
By: Stephen Price DDS | Thursday, February 15th, 2018 | Dental Fillings
Thursday, February 15th, 2018
For the past 150-plus years, fillings have been the most basic of all dental restorations. This procedure is performed every single day across the globe, and it provides patients the opportunity to prevent more complicated damage to tooth structure. Way back when fillings were made of gold. This protocol led to long-lasting structural repair. Many people have said that their gold fillings never needed to be replaced. Perhaps this is where the misperception about fillings developed. Since the use of gold transitioned into amalgam and, now, into a composite resin and other ceramics, the idea that fillings can last forever needs to be tossed aside.
Just about every dental restoration made today has an end-date. Just how long a restoration like a filling can last is dependent on a few factors. One is the material used to repair the tooth. Another is oral care. In many cases, fillings simply wear out from daily use. Because your dentist knows that fillings need to be replaced at some point, time is spent during every dental exam to closely observe the integrity of each restoration in, on, or over a tooth.
Indications that a Filling Needs to be Replaced
A few of the signs that it’s time to replace a filling include:
- Clear separation around the filling. When we chew, the enamel of our teeth expands because friction creates heat. When the mouth cools, enamel constricts. The materials used to make fillings react the same way to heat and to cool, with expansion and contraction. The problem is, there is variation in how quickly and how much these materials expand and contract. Over time, this leads to space around the filling.
- When a filling separates, it may do so to such a subtle degree that we cannot detect it with the naked eye. What can detect the space around a filing is oral bacteria. These microorganisms may accumulate in microscopic crevices near the filling margin, gradually causing decay.
- Enamel is the strongest matter in the body. That’s a hard thing to match! Though dental materials have been selected based on their durability, each can wear down over time. If excessive wear is noticed, replacement is necessary.
Your Burke dentist offers personal dental care in a friendly office setting. Schedule your visit at (703)-935-2879.
