Care After Fillings

What do I do after a filling?
Expect some gum discomfort and tooth sensitivity for a day or two. Our teeth are living human tissues with blood vessels and nerves in them. A tooth filling is like surgery we would get elsewhere on our body so some post-op discomfort is normal. Over-the-counter pain medications or warm salt water rinses may help.
Please be mindful that fillings weaken our teeth. Once a filling is placed, our tooth is no longer as strong or durable as it was before.
Be careful chewing on the filling and wait for any numbness to go away before eating. Very hot or very cold things may irritate the tooth nerve while it is healing so it may help to avoid such food and drink for a couple days.
If your bite feels off or "high" after a couple days, please call us for a bite adjustment (808-488-1988).
When can I eat?
If you are numb, please avoid eating until the numbness goes away.
Silver (Amalgam) Filling: These are a mixture of different metals that takes some time to fully set, so avoid eating on that side for 24 hours, especially hard or chewy foods.
White (Composite) Filling: These are resin based fillings that set right away once we cure them with a blue light, so once any numbness goes away, feel free to eat as usual.
Glass Ionomer or Resin Modified Glass Ionomer Filling: These are a middle ground between silver and white fillings: they set more like a silver filling but are made of glass and resin like a white filling. They take the longest to set so for 24 hours: avoid brushing that area, stay away from hot food or beverages, and be careful eating on that side.
How do I care for them?
Please clean and care for your fillings like you would your natural teeth as they can still decay. At the minimum, we recommend brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, rinsing with water after every meal/drink/snack, and ACT Anticavity mouth wash before bed so it can sit on our teeth overnight. In addition, electric toothbrushes like the Oral B and water flossers such as the Waterpik are helpful, and Xylitol mints can help to kill the bacteria that cause cavities. For extra care, we recommend a high fluoride toothpaste in place of the ACT rinse like prescription Fluorimax toothpaste.
Silver (Amalgam) Filling: As the filling ages, the metal corrodes which helps defend against future decay. However, the metal is rigid and tooth grinding or clenching, or eating hard or chewy foods can cause the tooth to crack. Our teeth are like a block of ice - to break ice, we would cut a hole into it, stick a metal wedge into the hole, and then hit the metal wedge to crack the ice. A metal filling is a piece of metal in a hole in our tooth. Hitting the metal or the tooth can cause the tooth to crack like a piece of ice.
White (Composite) Filling: The material itself doesn't last as long as a silver filling - typically 5-7 years. It is more flexible than a silver filling and therefore causes less cracking of our teeth.
Glass Ionomer or Resin Modified Glass Ionomer Filling: These are the softest fillings so they can wear down if we brush them too hard. These fillings release fluoride and can be "re-charged" with additional fluoride, so by caring for them they will help care for you!
How long will they last?
Fillings will not last forever and the material itself will eventually breakdown and need replacement (5-7 years for white fillings and 10-15 years for silver fillings). Fillings usually last longer on our front teeth.
We can think of it like a car. A car that's driven 40 miles a day in harsh weather conditions will not last as long as a car that's driven 5 miles a day, parked in the shade with regular maintenance. With our teeth, we can think of mileage as how much we put pressure on our teeth from chewing, clenching, or grinding. Harsh weather conditions would be the sugary and/or acidic food and drinks. Maintenance would be regular dental visits, proper brushing, flossing, rinsing with water, xylitol, and fluoride.
A nightguard or retainer may help our fillings last longer if during sleep we: clench or grind our teeth, have dry mouth, mouth breathe, have acid reflux or untreated sleep apnea.
What happens when they break, decay, or need replacement?
Existing fillings may be repaired, replaced with a new filling, or replaced with a crown. Your dentist will help you make a decision based upon the tooth's history, size of the filling, chip, or decay, any signs of cracks in the tooth, as well as your bite, habits, home care, diet, risk of future decay, and health.
As your dentist, we can control the quality of materials used, how well we shape your tooth to fit the filling, and how your teeth come together when you bite. We cannot control the size of the decay or any pre-existing fillings, your choice in filling type versus a crown, or what happens after the filling is placed. Please consider your "mileage" (including any clenching or grinding when we are sleeping) and "maintenance" regarding how long your filling lasts. Some flexibility may be provided if your filling breaks or falls out up to 5 years after it is placed.
Please contact us at 808-488-1988 or [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns.