Research into Filling Failure

We work hard to stay up-to-date on new medical research at the Upper East Side dental office of Dr. Joseph Dallessandro. Recently, scientists examined data on people who had suffered from premature filling failures to look for common features, and they were surprised by what they found.

The bonding used to secure dental fillings has an expected lifespan of ten years, but the people in the study required replacements after five years, at most. The researchers found that they were likelier than people with successful fillings to be smokers or to use alcohol. They also found a strong correlation between filling failure and a particular DNA sequence. The possibility that people could be more predisposed toward filling failure because of their genetics merits further investigation, but in the meantime, people whose relatives have struggled with poor oral health should be especially vigilant about maintaining their regular check-ups.

Another major finding was that resin bonding is just as successful as amalgam fillings. This is significant because resin is the same color as natural teeth and lacks mercury, making it a more popular option. Knowing that it is not prone to higher failure rates will contribute to its increasing popularity.

Joseph S. Dallessandro, DDS, and Jiah Choi, DDS, operate at 360 E 72nd St, Ste B, New York, New York, 10021. To set up an appointment, call 212-988-1089, or visit Joseph Dallessandro DDS and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Pain with Fillings

Fillings are a common method of restoration intended to ease a patient’s pain from tooth decay and to prevent further erosion. However, patients sometimes continue to experience discomfort after a filling is placed. While this is normal, persistent pain should be examined by a skilled dentist such as Dr. Dallessandro or Dr. Choi.

If the area around a filling is still painful days after the filling was placed, the filling may be misshapen. This could prevent the patient from biting properly or provide bacteria with a crevice to hide in and continue to cause decay. It could also be that the decay went all the way to the pulp of a tooth and a root canal will be necessary to undo the damage.

Fillings do not always last forever. A tooth with a filling that had been comfortable for years may become painful if the sealant surrounding a filling breaks. This would provide bacteria with another hiding spot and could cause the filling to come loose. It is also possible that a second crack has formed within the tooth, and the pain from the second episode of decay is being confused with pain from a faulty filling.

Joseph S. Dallessandro, DDS, and Jiah Choi, DDS, operate at 360 E 72^nd St, Ste B, New York, New York, 10021. To set up an appointment, call 212-988-1089, or visit JosephDallessandroDDS.com, and fill out a contact sheet.