Why do Dentists recommend Removing Old Composite Fillings?

If you develop a cavity in a tooth, your dentist will likely recommend getting it filled as soon as possible to prevent further infection and fortify your tooth. You can consider different restorative materials for the filling. The most common filling materials are silver amalgam and composite resin.

The use of amalgam fillings has been widespread over the years. However, composite fillings have gained popularity because of their aesthetic appearance and durability. This article explains everything you want to know about composite fillings, their durability, and safety to help you understand which option to select when recommended dental fillers.

Composite Fillings Explained

Composite fillers appear more natural and aesthetically pleasing than other options. In addition, composites are customizable to match your tooth’s color, making them virtually unnoticeable in your mouth. The tooth-colored material combines acrylic resin reinforced with powdered glass making it beneficial for various dental restorations such as fillings, veneers, inlays, and crowns. Dentists also use composite resin fillers to repair broken or chipped teeth.

Why Composite Fillings Need Replacements?

Although composite fillings are durable, they do not have an extended lifespan similar to other materials like silver amalgam. Studies reveal that composite fillings have a lifespan of seven years before needing replacements. Although you can extend their longevity by another three or four years, replacements will become inevitable whenever they are damaged or failing.

In addition, if you are at high risk of cavities, you may not benefit from composite fillers, encouraging a recommendation from the dentist near you to consider other materials that provide better durability. Therefore your specific situation determines how often you may need to replace composite fillers in your teeth.

Do Composite Fillings Fall Out Easily?

When receiving dental fillings in Heath, TX, with composite fillers, the dentist cleans out tooth decay and disinfects the tooth before finally applying the composite resin to your teeth in layers. The dentist also hardens the filling material with ultraviolet light to ensure they stay in place without falling out.

As you leave the dentist’s office, you receive instructions on caring for the filling material in your tooth and natural teeth by maintaining excellent dental hygiene and refraining from harmful practices that might damage your dental filler. The composite filling will not fall out without receiving sufficient help from you to loosen and fall out if you indulge in harmful habits like using your teeth for purposes other than chewing and biting, biting complex foods, or refusing treatment of problems like bruxism causing you to grind and clench your teeth. You can rest assured the composite resin fillers will stay in your teeth for their duration as long as you care for them appropriately with your natural teeth.

Does Replacing Old Feelings Hurt?

Replacing old fillers in your tooth is similar to getting a new filling in a tooth. If you are considering replacing silver amalgam fillings to benefit from the aesthetic appearance of composite resin fillers, the dentist providing composite fillings in Heath, TX, must remove the existing filler using techniques that require anesthesia and drilling to remove the existing material and remove material by exploring the weak spots in the current fillings after taking x-rays to identify cracks or whether decay has spread beneath them. In such cases, your dentist will likely recommend replacing the filling in your tooth.

Replacing existing fillings in a tooth is similar to getting a new filling, with some effort needed by the dentist to remove the old or damaged filling material before replacing it with composite resin. You may have to endure some discomfort when receiving the replacement, but you can rest assured the dentist will provide local anesthesia to minimize the pain.

You will receive instructions from the dentist to avoid staining foods and beverages for at least 48 hours after replacing your existing fillers with tooth-colored material for fear of staining them. Similarly, they will restrict you from eating or chewing items like ice and fingernails and using your teeth to open bottles or packages.

Dentists also recommend you maintain excellent dental hygiene by brushing teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, flossing once, and receiving six monthly dental exams and cleanings to ensure your composite fillers and natural teeth are not affected by any infections or conditions that may need further treatment.

Dentists recommend removing old composite fillings only after they notice damage to them or severe staining. However, except for their lower lifespan, composite resin fillers stay in your teeth for the suggested duration without needing replacements unless they sustain damage.

Dental fillings require replacements after their lifespan because of damage or loosening. Composite resin fillers are not an exception; dentists recommend replacing them only if damaged. If you need composite fillers replaced, ARC 32 Family Dentistry provides them in Heath. Consult them today to determine whether you need replacements for these fillers besides the reasons for getting replacements.