Dr. Mogell Dental Blog

Boca Raton Cosmetic Dentist

Got Sensitive Fillings? Time to Replace Them

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Got sensitive fillings? Maybe it is time to replace that 20 year old filling for a new and improved model.

Older fillings, especially those old silver fillings made from mercury-based dental amalgam, have a tendency to break or leak as they age. This type of filling material is 150 year old technology and when it comes into contact with heat and cold it contracts and expands. This causes problems with the filling and can even cause cracks in the tooth.

New decay forming under these old leaky fillings is common. Any discomfort from a tooth that has an existing filling should be brought to the attention of your dentist as soon as possible. Early treatment can help save the tooth or possibly help avoid needing a root canal. If your dental floss is being shredded while you are flossing then it is a good bet that you have old fillings in need of replacement even if they are not causing discomfort.

Untreated tooth decay, especially under an old filling, can infect the pulp of the tooth and cause an abscessed tooth. An abscessed tooth is painful and requires treatment from a dental professional to resolve the infection. Oral antibiotics alone cannot treat this type of infection and a visit to the emergency room won't help either - no dentists there. An abscessed tooth that is not treated causes severe pain and the infection can travel from the tooth to other areas of the body causing serious infection and illness.

If you need a new filling or feel that it is time to replace those old mercury silver fillings with modern dental composite fillings then please contact Boca Raton dentist Dr. Ken Mogell at 561-394-9000.

Labels: mercury fillings, replace fillings