Replacing Your Dental Fillings

Healthy teeth are essential for a healthy body. Boise dental fillings help to replace lost tooth enamel due to decay, and cavities by returning a tooth back to its normal size and shape. Sometimes however, your filling may need to be replaced due to signs or symptoms that may indicate complications due to open gaps, fractures or recurrent decay.

Types of Boise Dental Fillings

Amalgam. Most people recognize Boise dental amalgams as silver fillings. Amalgam fillings are made of an alloy of mixed metals that expand and contract. Often times they are a popular choice with a Boise dentist because they are strong and can withstand the forces of chewing. However, fractures with amalgam fillings are still known to occur. If the seal between the tooth and the filling breaks down, food debri and bacteria can get under the filling causing recurrent decay. If detected early, a simple replacement can be made. If left undetected more expensive Boise dental care restorations may be needed such as a root canal or Boise crowns & bridges.

Resin Composite Fillings. Made out of ceramic and plastic compounds in order to maintain the appearance of natural teeth, resin composite fillings are commonly used for to fill cavities on the front teeth. For aesthetic reasons, composite fillings are good at matching the color to that of the actual tooth while preventing breakage and insulating the tooth from excessive temperature changes. However, a patient who receives a composite filling may experience post operative sensitivity. Because composite fillings are softer than natural tooth material, they are also prone to failure when placed on molar teeth because of the immense chewing forces placed upon them. On average composite fillings have a life expectancy from 2-10 years on average.

Prevention

Regular Boise dental exams, x-rays, and a Boise teeth cleaning are important ways to evaluate your Boise dental fillings. Unfortunately, many times you will not be able to tell if your fillings need to be replaced until it is too late. A Boise dental checkup will help to identify small concerns before they turn into bigger problems.

While you may not be able to identify whether your filing needs to be replaced, pay attention to any bite or temperature sensitivity issues you may be experiencing. Usually these symptoms are an important indicator of some of the problems listed above. Nobody knows your teeth better than you do!

Talk to your Boise dentist about evaluating the integrity of your current fillings in order to prevent any future Boise dental problems that may arise if they have become compromised. Don’t make the mistake of waiting to do something if you have signs or symptoms of a broken or unsealed filling. If you have unusual sensitivity, tenderness, or source-point pain, schedule an appointment with your Boise dentist as soon as possible for a Boise dental exam.