Robert S. Sykes, DDS Dentist Marietta Georgia

Has it been a while since you had your cavities treated and fillings placed? If so, you may be wondering, "When do I replace my dental fillings?" This is a good and important question to ask because if a filling starts to have problems, it can lead to additional oral health consequences.

Pay attention to the signs

For example, if a filling becomes loose and a patient is unaware of it, food and plaque can stick in the areas between the filling and the actual tooth. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to the condition of fillings and replace dental fillings, as appropriate. There are several factors that work together to answer this question.

What type of filling do you have?

The filling type will significantly impact when one will need to replace dental fillings. For example, tooth-colored resin fillings are highly popular for their appearance but require frequent replacement. 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. Patients with gold fillings may find that they last for 30 years and never need replacement. These time frames are not the same for each individual. Someone with a resin filling could have it for 15 years, while another person needs to replace it after seven. Other factors like oral health, daily habits and even diet can contribute to the longevity of a filling.

Have you suffered other oral health problems?

Patients who have suffered other oral health problems like dental damage, additional decay or infections may find that they need to replace dental fillings more frequently. If oral health problems have impacted the tooth where a filling has been placed, that filling may come loose faster.

Do you have any signs that the filling could be in trouble?

There are several signs that a filling may need replacement, including:

• Sensitive teeth can be a sign that the filling has cracked professional treatment
• If a tooth hurts at the location of the filling, that means that the filling could have worn down and needed replacement
• If the filling falls out, schedule an emergency dental appointment

Visit our clinic

The best way to find out, "When do I replace my dental fillings" is to call our clinic and schedule a dental examination. Upon inspecting your fillings, we can make a determination regarding how much longer they can last and when you need to plan on replacing them. It is always wise to replace them prior to a filling becoming loose, leaking or falling out, so this is an important appointment to make for your oral health.