Dental Filling

Yes. Although most patients find the discomfort bearable, everyone’s pain threshold, extent of decay and situation is different. You may opt for local anesthetic for a pain-free experience.

Yes, and as soon as possible!

While an early decayed tooth may not be giving you much trouble yet, do not be tempted to put off getting your filling done as tooth decay does not repair itself and can quickly become a much more complex and costly problem to fix! If left untreated, a small hole in your tooth can quickly grow and eventually cause the nerves in the dental pulp to get inflammed, causing intensified pain. Once this happens, your condition may require a root canal or extraction.

This depends on many factors. Some of which are as follows:

• Size of the cavity. Generally speaking, the more healthy tooth structure there is remaining, the better the chances are of retaining the filling in the long run.
• Type of material chosen. Both tooth-colored and amalgam fillings have good longevity. However, there are certain cases which call for one material to be chosen over another, such as aesthetics for a front tooth.
• Vitality of the tooth. Root canal treated teeth tend to be weaker than vital teeth and are more prone to fracturing.
• Oral hygiene and decay risk. The filled tooth will not last as long if it is in an environment where it is constantly being challenged by sugars and acids.

We have a variety of high-quality materials available, for example amalgam, resin composite and glass-ionomer cements.

While dental fillings tend to stay intact for a long time, they do not last forever. Eventually, all fillings need to be replaced. Some possible reasons to get a filling replaced are:

• Worn out or chipped filling
• Stains
• New decay has formed
• Remaining tooth structure has broken down

Fillings that have worn away, chipped, cracked or fallen out may leave gaps between the tooth and the filling. This provides an entry point for bacteria, consequently causing another decay. It can also be a source of sensitivity and discomfort.

Below are some signs that your filling may need replacement:

• The filling has chipped or cracked
• You experience toothaches
• You feel pain when you drink sweet, sour, cold or hot beverages
• Your old filling has changed colour
• The filling has fallen out

If you experience any of the above, ensure that your tooth filling is being checked out by a dentist to assess if it needs to be replaced. You may contact our clinic to make an appointment!