Can a dentist mess up a filling?

This blogpost will answer the question Can a dentist mess up a filling? And will include the following topics: Why would I need a filling?

Why would a tooth hurt after a filling?

Possible signs of poor dental fillings

What problems do poor fillings cause?

Problems With Dental Fillings

Common cavity filling problems and how to identify them

Can a dentist mess up a filling?

No, it is quite uncommon for a dentist to mess up a filling. Although it may happen, it is quite unlikely.

Why would I need a filling?

Fillings are commonly used to restore teeth after decay has been removed. They may also be required to repair teeth that have been fractured or chipped. When a dentist detects tooth decay, a filling may be the most appropriate treatment to prevent further tooth damage. The procedure is straightforward, but it will almost certainly require the use of a drill and local anaesthetic to complete.

Why would a tooth hurt after a filling?

Teeth may feel hot, cold, or pressure sensitive after a filling, which is totally normal and known as sensitivity. When a tooth is drilled and repaired, the nerve might get disturbed, resulting in sensitivity that can linger for days or weeks. If the decay in the tooth was deep and close to the nerve, the likelihood of sensitivity is significantly higher. Give us a call if you have a sensitive tooth. It’s possible that your nerve may require more time to settle down, or that the tooth will need to be modified.

Possible signs of poor dental fillings

It is difficult to identify whether or not you have received a substandard dental filling until you have been evaluated by a dental practitioner who may be able to confirm the same.

However, possible signs of poor dental fillings may include:

Fillings that are not contoured or polished and may extend past the border of the tooth, causing a “overhang”;

Big fillings, which could suggest that a crown should have been used to treat the tooth instead.;

Small particles of food become stuck around the edge of the filling or between neighbouring teeth, which is known as food trapping. This is an issue since the trapped food can decompose and lead to tooth disease.

What problems do poor fillings cause?

A dentist’s failure to properly fill a tooth might result in long-term dental pain. While most individuals have some pain after having a tooth filled, toothache that lasts more than a week might indicate a problem with the filling.

The material may not adhere effectively to the tooth if the cavity has not been properly prepared. This might cause the filling to come out, allowing further decay to build and leading to a long-term pain and infection. This is referred to as secondary decay, and it can lead to the need for more involved and costly treatment.

Furthermore, if the edges of a filling are not smoothed down or formed properly, this might cause pain and have an influence on nearby teeth or gums.

After a filling, it’s possible that your occlusion (bite) will change. While this is a well-known side effect of the procedure, if the filling is “too high,” it can make it difficult to eat and cause pain and suffering.

Similarly, if a filling is overly big, it can cause pain and make it difficult to clean the tooth properly. The person will then be at danger of developing more decay, necessitating further fillings or alternate therapy..

A big filling can also weaken the tooth, and if the filling fails, the tooth’s structure may be affected to the point where root canal treatment and a crown are required.

If a tooth has acquired more decay and the significantly inferior filling cannot be changed, a person may lose their tooth in severe circumstances. In this case, patients may have no choice except to undergo an extraction.

Problems With Dental Fillings

Pain Around Fillings:

Pain around fillings can be caused by a variety of factors, each of which has a different aetiology.

Pain when you bite or touch you teeth together:

When you bite down, you experience this kind of pain. The pain begins shortly after the anaesthetic wears off and lasts for a long period. The filling may be interfering with your bite in this situation. The filling will need to be reshaped in your dentist’s office. If the pain persists, it might suggest a more serious issue that needs further treatment, such as root canal therapy.

Pain to hot or cold

It is a sharp pain that happens only when your teeth come into contact with something hot or cold; as the hot or cold is removed, the discomfort goes away in a matter of seconds. If the pain persists after the heat or cold has been removed, it might suggest irreparable nerve damage, and you should see your dentist.

“Toothache-type” constant throbbing pain:

This “toothache” response may suggest that the decay has reached the pulp of the tooth and that this tissue is no longer healthy. If this is the case, you may need root canal treatment.

Referred pain:

This is pain or sensitivity in teeth other than the one where the filling was placed. There is most likely nothing wrong with your teeth causing this pain. The filled tooth is just relaying the “pain signals” it receives to the other teeth. Over the course of one to two weeks, the pain should subside on its own..

Allergic Reactions to Amalgam (Silver) Fillings

Silver fillings rarely cause allergic responses. According to the American Dental Association, less than 100 instances have ever been documented. Mercury or one of the metals used in amalgam restorations is likely to be the cause of the allergic reaction in these rare cases.Skin rashes and itching are common symptoms of amalgam allergy, which are comparable to those of a regular skin allergy. Patients with amalgam allergies often have a medical or familial history of metal allergies. A different restorative material can be utilised if an allergy has been confirmed.

Deteriorating Fillings

Persistent pressure from biting, grinding, or clenching can cause tooth fillings to wear away, chip, or break. Although you may not be able to tell whether your filling is deteriorating, your dentist can detect flaws in your restorations during a routine check-up.

Food particles and decay-causing germs can get under the filling if the barrier between the tooth enamel and the filling breaks. You run the risk of getting more decay in that tooth as a result. If left untreated, decay can spread to the dental pulp, resulting in an abscessed tooth.

There may not be enough tooth structure left to support a new filling if the filling is big or the recurring decay is widespread. Your dentist may need to replace the filling with a crown in certain circumstances.

Inadequate dental treatment, contamination of the preparation prior to implantation of the restoration, or a fracture of the restoration from biting or chewing damage are the most common causes of new fillings falling out. In most cases, older restorations will be lost due to decay or fracturing of the remaining tooth.

Common cavity filling problems and how to identify them

A cavity filling can go wrong for a variety of reasons, despite its simplicity. In most cases, poor dental care is to blame for any of the following.

Rough fillings

While the filling material is not the same as natural enamel and may feel strange at first, it should not be rough or sharp when touched with your finger or tongue. Your dentist will use burs to finish and polish all tooth surfaces, including the one that holds your failing, once the filling material has been inserted. However, if your filling seems rough more than 48 hours after it was placed, it may need to be polished again.

Decay remains trapped below the filling

Drilling out the deterioration that caused the hole is necessary to prevent it from expanding even after the filling is in place. Before a filling material is utilised, a professional dentist will make sure that all areas of decay have been removed and that the underlying structure is healthy. If there is any decay behind the filling, it is mainly due to carelessness and might result in further tooth damage.

Improper shape/anatomy of the filling

Oral bacteria will collect everywhere they are given the opportunity, particularly in hard-to-reach locations like overhangs, tiny holes, and filling margins. If your filling is the wrong form, it may create even more locations for germs to concentrate and begin harming your teeth, resulting in even more dental issues.

It may be difficult for you to see whether your filling is the wrong shape and hence faulty, but an x-ray will clearly indicate any anomalies that need to be fixed, and you can request one from your dentist who will discuss the results with you.

Wrong material used

If you selected a white filling and were instead given an amalgam filling, this is purely due to your dentist’s fault. It has two possible outcomes. Not only is amalgam a dark grey filling that stands out in your mouth, but a small percentage of patients are allergic to it.If you have an allergy to amalgam fillings, they can cause skin rashes and itching, requiring you to return to your dentist’s office to have the filling removed and replaced.

It may be quite annoying, not to mention uncomfortable, to have a problem with a dental filling after you have invested  so much time and money on it. If you believe a cavity filling was done incorrectly, your dentist might be held accountable for failing to fulfil their duty of care to you.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

How do I know if my dentist messed up my filling?

You may experience some signs if a dentist has messed up your filling such as :You may experience some toothache after having a tooth filled,which lasts several weeks. There can be food entrapment in the filled tooth. There can be sensitivity or even an allergic reaction. If you experience any of these signs,contact your dentist.

What can go wrong with dental fillings?

Tooth fillings can wear away, chip, or crack because they are subjected to constant pressure from biting, grinding, or clenching. Your dentist can identify problems in your restorations during a normal check-up, even if you can’t see if your filling is deteriorating.

What does a bad filling feel like?

A sharp pain is the major sign of a bad filling. Apart from that fillings that are not contoured or polished and may extend past the border of the tooth causing overhangs, also there can be food entrapment.

Can a filling lead to a root canal?

No, not always. If the decay is too deep that it has reached the nerves then a root canal treatment becomes necessary.

Can a high filling fix itself?

No, a high filling cannot fix itself. You must visit your dentist and get your bite corrected.