“When should I get my fillings replaced?”

Hello, it is possible that the filling came off. Please consult with a dental professional that can determine if you would need a filling again.

Thank you for your question.

The only reasons to replace fillings are for cosmetic purposes or recurrent decay. Due to the fact that you are feeling pain in this area, I believe it to be the latter. The average filling in the United States will last 5 years before needing replacement. I would recommend seeing your dental professional for evaluation and treatment as needed. Pain is possible indication of additional treatment that may be needed.

I'm not sure what your filling was made of. If it were either composite (which is mostly plastic) or amalgam (which is silver and mercury), those materials last about nine years. If you make them from either gold or ceramic, they will last indefinitely. They cost more in the short term but being a one time expense, they become cost effective in the long term. They are also better for your health as you don't keep whittling down the teeth.

Hi there,

It all depends on what your dentist will see. You might need an X-ray to check on that tooth, and the pain might be from that tooth or the neighboring ones or the opposing one, visit your dentist, and sure enough he will let you know the source of pain and change the filling if it needs so.

Good luck.

It's very rare, but the symptoms you describe are because of decay left in the tooth possibly due to the dentist not wanting to expose the nerve, but placing a restorative medication called calcium hydroxide in the base of the preparation. If this is not the case, and your dental records would show that it was or not, the filling may have begun to leak if it's been longer than 7 years, which is the life of a metal filling, not a composite resin, which is tooth-colored and sometimes used in back teeth for cosmetic purposes, but only in patients who take excellent care of their teeth.