Normal Wear and Tear

Every time you bite down or chew, your fillings experience significant pressure. Over the years, this repeated force can gradually wear down the filling material, especially if you frequently crunch on hard foods or grind your teeth. Even high-quality composite and amalgam fillings will eventually fail when they reach the end of their lifespan.

Decay Around the Filling

One of the most common reasons a filling needs replacement is when new decay develops around its edges. Bacteria can collect where the filling meets your natural tooth, especially if the seal between your tooth and the filling has weakened. Once decay forms under or around a filling, it can no longer effectively protect your tooth and should be replaced.

Cracks, Chips, and Loose Fillings

Just like with your natural teeth, your dental fillings can sustain damage if you bite down on something hard, experience facial trauma, or clench and grind your teeth (bruxism). A cracked or chipped filling may no longer fit securely, and older fillings can gradually loosen as your tooth naturally expands and contracts with temperature changes. Even a small defect in your filling can allow bacteria to enter, increasing the risk of further tooth decay.

When Should a Filling Be Replaced?

If your filling has failed, it may cause tooth sensitivity, pain when chewing, rough edges, visible cracks, or food may get trapped around the restoration. In some cases, there are no noticeable symptoms when your filling is on its last legs, which is why routine dental examinations are essential for detecting problems early and addressing them before they require a more complicated solution. 

Make Sure Your Fillings Are in Good Shape

Replacing a worn or damaged filling as soon as possible helps preserve more of your natural tooth, prevents further decay, and may reduce the need for more extensive treatments. If you’re concerned about the integrity of your fillings, make an appointment with your dentist today for an examination.

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Types of Dental Fillings

There are several types of materials used for dental fillings, and the kind you receive will affect how soon you can eat afterward [1]. Here’s a quick overview:

• Composite fillings. Made from a tooth-colored resin, these fillings are hardened using a special light, and you can generally resume eating immediately after the procedure is completed. However, your dentist may recommend waiting at least an hour before eating to ensure the filling has fully set.

• Amalgam fillings. Made from a mixture of metals including silver, mercury, and copper, amalgam fillings take longer to fully harden, typically requiring about 24 hours, so you might need to wait a bit longer before biting into hard or chewy foods.

• Ceramic fillings. These are made from porcelain and are often fully set by the time you leave the dentist’s office, allowing for immediate consumption of food, though a short waiting period is advised.

• Gold fillings. Known for their long-lasting durability, gold fillings also require more time to set. It’s typically recommended to avoid chewing on the affected side for at least 24 hours after placement.

Immediate Post-Filling Care

Immediately after the filling, dentists usually recommend waiting until the local anesthesia wears off before eating [2]. This ensures you don’t accidentally bite your cheek, tongue, or lip while your mouth is still numb. For most people, this can take about one to three hours.

Here are a few additional tips to follow immediately after getting a filling:

• Choose soft foods. Stick to a diet of soft foods like yogurt, soup, smoothies, and mashed potatoes initially. These are easier to chew and often require minimal effort from your teeth.

• Avoid sticky and hard foods. Foods like gum, candy, nuts, and raw vegetables can disturb the filling and should be avoided within the first day, especially with amalgam and gold fillings.

• Maintain oral hygiene. Continue with regular brushing and flossing, but be gentle around the newly restored tooth to avoid any irritation.

Your dentist will provide specific instructions tailored to your dental needs and the type of filling you received. Be sure to discuss any concerns or questions you have during your appointment. Following your dentist’s instructions will ensure a successful recovery and maintain the longevity and effectiveness of the filling [3].

Take the Best Care of Your Filling

By following your dentist’s post-care instructions, you can ensure a smooth recovery process after getting a filling. If you have any questions or need to schedule a follow-up appointment, don’t hesitate to contact your dentist. They are the best resource for ensuring that your fillings and overall dental health are well taken care of!

Sources:

1. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/dental-filling-options
2. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17002-dental-fillings
3. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/cavity-filling#aftercare 

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Gold has many advantages for restoring teeth: it’s biocompatible, meaning there’s an extremely small chance the body would react to it. It’s not considered to be toxic to the body, resists corrosion, and is durable and versatile.

Although the demand for gold used in dentistry has dwindled, it’s still used today. When is gold used for smiles?

For Smaller Cavities

The use of pure gold in dentistry is rare; typically, it’s mixed with other metals to form what’s called gold alloy. However, pure gold is occasionally used for very small cavities in the mouth. Gold fillings also last the longest of all the filling materials available. As a result of this and other factors, gold tends to be one of the more expensive materials used to restore teeth, so gold isn’t as popular today when there are other dental filling materials available that are less noticeable and less expensive.

Inlays and Onlays

Gold alloy, which is a mixture of gold with other metals including silver, copper, and zinc, is used for inlays and onlays in large cavities.

When tooth decay is too extensive to support a normal filling but not extensive enough for a dental crown, your dentist may use an inlay or an onlay to restore the tooth. Both of these treat larger cavities without dental crowns, appearing as something between a crown and a filling.

While an inlay typically covers the space at the center of the tooth, an onlay may cover the additional sides of the tooth in addition to the center. Onlays are sometimes called partial crowns because of their extensive coverage.

Dental Crowns

Gold alloy may also be used for dental crowns. There are numerous advantages to using gold for a dental crown as opposed to ceramic:

 Gold seals very well, reducing the chance that bacteria would affect your tooth.

 Gold requires the smallest amount of healthy tooth tissue to be removed compared to other materials when placing the crown.

 Gold is very resistant to corrosion and wear, giving it the potential to last for decades.

 Patients tolerate gold very well and tend to not react to it.

Although gold dental crowns are generally only reserved for teeth that are in the back of the mouth, some people don’t mind having a noticeable gold tooth and will opt for a gold crown in the front of their mouth.

Gold certainly has its advantages when used in modern dentistry, although it’s not as popular today as it was even decades ago. Dentists still use gold for the appropriate applications in dentistry to help protect and restore teeth, especially for fillings, inlays and onlays, and dental crowns.

If you’re curious about the advantages of using gold to restore your smile, talk to your dentist about why this material would be used and if it’s right for you!

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