General Dentistry

Filling may be required for various reasons. One of them is the tooth decay. Other reasons include broken teeth, tooth grinding and nail biting. When you visit us, we will check by using digital X-rays to determine if you need filling. The decayed or affected portion of the tooth will be removed and then filled with composite filings.

After the filling is placed, some people may feel sensitivity after they receive a filling. The tooth may be sensitive to pressure, air, sweet foods or cold. Composite fillings often cause sensitivity, but other types of filling materials can, too.

In most other cases, the sensitivity will decrease over one to two weeks. Until then, try to avoid anything that causes it. If your tooth is extremely sensitive or your sensitivity does not decrease after two weeks, contact your dentist’s office.

It’s important to let your us know about any sensitivity you are feeling.  Your dentist has no way of predicting if your tooth will react to a particular material.

Temporary Fillings

You may receive a temporary fillings if:

  • Your treatment requires more than one appointment.
  • You have a deep cavity and the pulp  becomes exposed during treatment.
  • You need emergency dental treatment.

A temporary filling may make your tooth feel better. Fillings don’t last forever. They can become discolored. Composite, tooth-colored fillings pick up stains, and yellow or darken over time. When you chew, your teeth and any fillings in them are subjected to tremendous pressures. Even if no other problems develop, some fillings will wear out over time and will need to be replaced. A filling will need to be replaced earlier if it falls out, leaks or cracks.

Fillings That Fall Out

Fillings can fall out for several reasons:

  • You bite down too hard on a tooth that has a large filling, and break the filling or the tooth.
  • The filling material that was used cannot withstand the forces placed upon it. For example, if you have broken a large piece of your front tooth, a porcelain (tooth-colored) crown is probably a good treatment choice. In some cases, a dentist may place a composite filling instead. This may look good or acceptable. However, if the composite is too large, a strong biting motion may break the plastic material.
  • Your saliva gets into the cavity when the filling is placed. For composite resins, this will disrupt the bonding of the material. As a result, the bond will not stick well to the tooth and it may fall out

Both amalgam and composite fillings can crack, either soon after they are placed or after the fillings have been in place for some time.

Cracks can occur soon after a filling is placed if the filling is higher than the rest of the tooth surface, and must bear most of the force of biting. Cracks also can occur over time, as the forces from chewing and biting affect the filling and the restored tooth.

A filling is said to be leaking when the side of the filling doesn’t fit tightly against the tooth. Debris and saliva can seep down between the filling and the tooth. This can lead to decay, discoloration or sensitivity.Both amalgam and composite fillings can leak. An amalgam filling sometimes leaks slightly after it is placed. You would notice this as sensitivity to cold. This sensitivity decreases for the next two to three weeks. Then it disappears altogether. Over that period, the amalgam filling naturally corrodes. The corrosion seals the edges of the filling and stops any leaks.

A composite filling could be contaminated with saliva. This would weaken the bond between the filling and the tooth and allow for leaks. Other times, there may be small gaps where the tooth and filling meet. These gaps are caused by shrinkage when your dentist places the filling. Sensitivity after receiving a composite filling may disappear over time. If it doesn’t, the filling may need to be replaced.

Fillings also can leak as a result of wear over time. These fillings should be replaced.