Most American adults have at least one filling. Fillings are a great invention by dentists to take care of cavities. Depending on how long you have had your fillings, you may lose one. Losing a filling is not a cause for panic, and our dentists can fix that problem quickly.
What Are Fillings?
Dentists have used fillings for centuries to repair teeth that have a cavity to save them. Fillings used to be made of a metal amalgam (mixture), usually with silver and mercury. Many dentists still use silver fillings without mercury because silver hardens quickly and works well when our dentist needs to fill a large cavity. Some dentists use composite fillings that are the same color as your teeth because many people prefer tooth-colored fillings, especially in teeth close to the front of your mouth.
Why Fillings Fall Out
As adults age, their teeth change and shift. Modern fillings can change and adapt with your teeth, but older fillings may crack or chip, especially if they are silver amalgam. Silver can become brittle over time. The larger your fillings are, and the older they are, the more likely they are to crack or fall out.
Fillings also fall out because of further tooth decay in that tooth. If you practice excellent dental hygiene and visit our dentists twice a year, your fillings can last throughout your lifetime. However, cavities can occur in the same tooth twice, which can make fillings fall out.
You can break or crack filings because you clench or grind your teeth. If you know that you clench your teeth or grind them together at night, the constant pressure on your teeth can cause your fillings to fall out.
What Should I Do?
If your filling is large enough, you may notice when it falls out because you may suddenly bite down on something hard. Small fillings may be more difficult to notice. If you do lose a filling, you need to give our office a call as soon as possible. Our dentists can check your tooth to see if it needs to be repaired and then replace your filling so your tooth will be back to normal.
Dental Blog | Dentist Menasha, WI | Mid Valley Dental, S.C. Michael J. Wockenfus, DDS created a blog to educate the community. It is your resource for all dentistry questions. Learn and read topics in the blog here! Mid Valley Dental, SC, 903 E. Airport Road, Menasha, WI 54952 • (920) 215-4160 • midvalleydental.com • 10/3/2024 • Related Terms: dentist Menasha WI •
Most American adults have at least one filling. Fillings are a great invention by dentists to take care of cavities. Depending on how long you have had your fillings, you may lose one. Losing a filling is not a cause for panic, and our dentists can fix that problem quickly. 
