Dental fillings are created for durability and to protect teeth affected by decay and cavities. Unfortunately, the fillers in your tooth don’t last forever and need replacements after remaining in your tooth for a few years.

Dentists recommend filling a tooth affected by tooth decay and cavities. The fillers are ideal for restoring your affected tooth, and the dentist near me completes the treatment in a short visit to the dentist’s office. In addition, dental fillers are cost-effective, durable, natural-looking, and safe without adverse effects.

Dentists recommend various fillings when restoring your infected tooth with dental fillers. The material used in the filling you receive and the location influence the cost, performance, lifespan, and durability of the filler.

Types of Fillings

• Metal Fillings: Silver fillings, alternatively called amalgam fillers, are combined with silver, copper, tin, and Mercury. Silver fillings are durable, robust, resistant to wear, and relatively affordable. In addition, these fillers are fracture-resistant and suitable for the molars where biting pressures are high. Unfortunately, the fillers are not aesthetic and do not match the color of the teeth.
• Composite Fillings: Acrylic resin and glass-like particles help make composite fillings have a tooth-colored appearance and remain inconspicuous in your mouth. Composite fillers are durable and suitable for small to mid-sized restorations with moderate chewing pressures.
• Glass Ionomer: besides restoring teeth, glass ionomer fillers provide added protection by releasing fluoride. The fillers are also tooth-colored and generally suitable for children with developing teeth.

In addition, you can also have ceramic and gold fillers indirect restorations created in a dental laboratory if you prefer. While ceramic fillings are tooth-colored, gold fillers are not aesthetic and are not liked by many.

How Long Do Dental Fillings Last?

As mentioned earlier, the material used for the restoration and its placement, besides the location, influence the lifespan of dental fillings. Therefore you can assume the following:

• With proper dental hygiene, you can expect silver fillings to remain in your teeth for about 10 to 15 years.
• Despite being more expensive, composite fillings have a shorter lifespan and need replacements every 5 to 7 years.
• Glass ionomer fillers are similar to composite resin fillings and might need replacements every five years.

If you think you need dental fillings for cavities in your teeth, discuss the material and the costs with the dentist in Roseville, CA, an excellent professional to help you choose the material.

Indicators of Fillings Needing Replacements

Although fillings are created for durability, they eventually need replacements making it essential for you to visit your dentist as soon as possible. Whenever necessary, you must seek replacements without delay because broken or loose fillings can cause severe infections, tooth pain, gum infection, and additional tooth decay or loss. The following signs indicate your existing fillings need replacements.

• Cracked Fillings: Fillings can crack after years of wear and tear but can occur faster if you grind your teeth. You might see a noticeable crack in the filling, or your dentist might notice the damage during x-rays when you visit them for your routine exams. Any cracks in the filler allow bacteria to enter your tooth to cause further infections making it essential for you to receive replacements at the earliest.
• Tooth Pain: a throbbing tooth pain in the affected tooth indicates your filler has deteriorated to cause a deep cavity. If left untreated by neglecting a replacement filler, the condition might worsen to need intensive dental treatments like root canals or extraction.
• Tooth Sensitivity: If you experience sensitivity in the filled tooth, especially to hot and cold beverages, it indicates your filler has cracked, or openings have developed around it. You develop sensitivity because the crack in the filling permits your mouth bacteria to penetrate the space exposing sensitive dental pulp and creating discomfort.
• Injuries: an impact on your mouth can also cause restorations to loosen, become chipped, or completely dislodged. Therefore if you experience impacts on your mouth, you find it beneficial to visit dental fillings in Roseville, CA, to determine whether your dental fillings are safe or need replacements.
• Old Fillings: Depending on the material used for restoring your tooth, the material generally lasts between seven to 15 years. If your fillings are old and show signs of wear and tear, you must have them replaced before they loosen or crack.

To learn more about how dentists replace fillings, whether broken or cracked, to restore your dental health, contact Smile Shine Dental in Roseville, and get your fillings replaced from them if required.