If you have been ignoring that pain that
seems to be coming from an existing filling, you need to schedule an appointment with your dentist.
Most people have no idea that old and new
tooth colored resin fillings and silver amalgam fillings will not last forever,
and if you are continually bragging about your 15-year-old fillings, you could
be asking for trouble.
According to the American Dental Associations
Mouth Healthy website, tooth colored fillings, or composite fillings are
resistant to breaks and fractures, but are not as strong as silver amalgam
fillings. Composite fillings are also more expensive than silver amalgam
fillings and are sometimes not covered by your dental insurance plan. Recent
studies indicate that composite or tooth colored resin fillings are less
durable than amalgam fillings and will need to be replaced more frequently.
Of course, the only way to tell if you have
decay under your existing fillings, crowns or other dental restorations is to
schedule an appointment with your dentist. Unfortunately, not all tooth decay
is painful, and you could be dealing with additional cavities under or around
your fillings. If you do not take care of the issue, other problems could occur
including infection and the need for root canal therapy.
If you have tooth colored fillings that are
visible when you smile, you may need to have them replaced because of cosmetic
reasons as tooth colored fillings can become stained or discolored.
When you age, your teeth could change. If
this happens, you may need to replace your dental restorations in order to save
your natural teeth or improve your bite. The old amalgam or tooth colored
filling may be past its use by date. If this occurs, you are putting the rest
of the tooth in danger.
Your dentist explains that a dental filling,
whether it is an amalgam or composite filling, is not used to cure the tooth
decay. Fillings are only placed to remove the damage caused by acid attack.
Old fillings are certainly nothing to boast
about, and should be checked out twice a year by your dentist, even more so if
you suspect a problem with a filling or dental crown.
Schedule an appointment
with your dentist today and have those fillings checked out. Doing so may mean
the difference between a simple filling replacement and a costly dental
restoration.
