Many dental implants are not permanent surgical treatments, as they are not actually part of the tooth root, so one day they may fall out, become loose, or be damaged. The same is true for dental fillings, and the duration of time they last is affected by your maintenance, materials, and the technology used.

How long can a tooth filling last?

Resin filling generally lasts for 3 to 5 years, and 10 years is already very good, of course, there are also longer ones, and the ones filled for 20 years are still intact. The long-term effectiveness of resin filling is related to various factors, including 1 the doctor’s skill, 2 the position of the epoxy resin repair, 3 the patient’s oral hygiene condition, etc.

In short, the duration of tooth filling depends on different materials and different oral health care methods for each person, so there is no fixed information on how long a tooth filling can last.

Is tooth filling permanent?

Not necessarily, because permanence is an ideal situation, many become unsightly after two years

Assuming the premise, the patient does not have poor diet, poor living habits, congenital crown diseases, the tooth preparation position is standard, the doctor’s operation is reliable, the filling resin choice is appropriate, and the filling design is effective, it can be equivalent to permanent.

Common conditions and solutions after filling a tooth

After filling a tooth, the shape and physiological function of the tooth are restored, and it can bite normally. However, some people may experience mild discomfort. Common conditions and solutions are as follows:

Sensitive symptoms due to cold, heat, acid, sweet, stress, etc. – This is a normal condition for a short period of time, which may be due to the deep caries causing mild irritation to the dental nerve, which usually subsides gradually until it disappears spontaneously.

Discomfort when biting on hard objects after filling – if there is no improvement, you can follow up immediately, which may be due to slightly higher occlusion of some teeth, and should be adjusted immediately.

Persistent severe pain after filling, without relief – you should see a doctor immediately, re-examine the tooth condition, and carry out corresponding treatment.

How to care for your teeth after filling

1. Within a few days after filling a tooth, do not eat on the side of the filled tooth to prevent the tooth from breaking or the filling material from falling off, as most dental filling resins need some time to harden and stabilize.

2. Strictly follow the doctor’s instructions, as different dental filling resins require different attention. For example, for amalgam materials, you should not eat for 2 hours after filling; for epoxy resin materials, you should not use hard-bristled or soft-bristled toothbrushes for a week.

3. After filling a tooth, there may be mild discomfort and pain, which usually subsides spontaneously. If the pain worsens, a review should be done immediately.

4. For teeth with severe deep caries and large-scale damage, simply filling the teeth is not enough. It is necessary to immediately perform a crown maintenance on the affected tooth according to the doctor’s advice to prevent the crown from breaking.

5. Immediately review as promised by the doctor.

6. Cultivate good oral health habits, consistently brush your teeth after meals, and use a standard ultrasonic electric toothbrush (provided that the teeth are well-filled), and cooperate with the use of dental floss sticks to reasonably clean dental plaque and prevent tooth diseases.

7. New research finds that grape seed can make our teeth more stable after filling.