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If
my tooth doesn’t hurt and my
filling is still in place, why would
the filling need to be replaced?
Constant pressure from chewing, grinding
or clenching can cause dental fillings,
or restorations, to wear away, chip or
crack. Although you may not be able to
tell that your filling is wearing down,
your dentist can identify weaknesses
in your restorations during a regular
check-up.
If the seal between the tooth enamel and
the restoration breaks down, food particles
and decay-causing bacteria can work their
way under the restoration. You then run
the risk of developing additional decay
in that tooth. Decay that is left untreated
can progress to infect the dental pulp
and may cause an abscess.
If the restoration is large or the recurrent
decay is extensive, there may not be
enough tooth structure remaining to support
a replacement filling. In these cases,
your dentist may need to replace the
filling with a crown.
Are dental amalgams safe?
Yes. Dental amalgam has been used in tooth
restorations worldwide for more than
100 years. Studies have failed to find
any link between amalgam restorations
and any medical disorder. Amalgam continues
to be a safe restorative material for
dental patients.
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Is it possible to have an allergic reaction
to amalgam?
Only a very small number of people are
allergic to amalgam fillings. Fewer
than 100 cases have ever been reported.
In
these rare instances, mercury may
trigger an allergic response. Symptoms
of amalgam
allergy are very similar to a typical
skin allergy.
Often patients who are truly allergic
to amalgam have a medical or family
history of allergies to metals. If
there is a
confirmed allergy, another restorative
material will be used. Return
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Is there a filling material that matches
tooth color?
Yes. Composite resins are tooth-colored,
plastic materials (made of glass
and resin) that are used both as fillings
and to repair defects in the teeth.
Because
they are tooth-colored, it is difficult
to distinguish them from natural
teeth. Composites are often used on the
front
teeth where a natural appearance
is important. They can be used on the
back teeth as
well depending on the location and
extent of the tooth decay. Composite
resins
are usually more costly than amalgam
fillings.
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Please note: The ADA does not provide specific answers
to individual questions about fees, dental problems, conditions, diagnoses,
treatments or proposed treatments, or requests for research. Information about
dental referrals, complaints and a variety of dental procedures may
be found here. You can also refer to our Frequently
Asked Questions page for answers to common questions.
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