If you’ve been told you need a filling, you may be wondering what happens to your tooth afterwards. Will it be as strong as it was before? Can you chew normally? And could the filling crack or the tooth break?
A dental filling is used to replace tooth structure that has been lost or damaged, for example through tooth decay, fracture or other damage.
Modern filling materials are designed to restore the tooth’s function, but a restored tooth isn’t identical to an untouched natural tooth.
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How a restored tooth performs over time depends on several factors, including how much healthy tooth structure remains, the size and location of the filling, the material used and the forces placed on the tooth.
Is a Tooth With a Filling Weaker Than a Natural Tooth?
Not necessarily in every situation, but a filled tooth is structurally different from an intact natural tooth.
A dental filling replaces tooth structure that has been lost through decay or damage. Different filling materials have different properties, advantages and limitations.
The condition of the remaining tooth is particularly important.
A small filling in a tooth with plenty of healthy structure remaining is very different from a large restoration in a tooth that has already lost a significant amount of its natural structure.
So, rather than simply asking whether a filling is as strong as a natural tooth, it’s useful to consider:
How much healthy natural tooth structure remains?
A dental professional can assess the condition of the tooth and recommend a restorative material or treatment based on your individual circumstances.
What Makes a Filled Tooth Strong or Weak?
Several factors can influence how a restored tooth functions over time.
The Size of the Filling
The size of a filling is one of the factors considered when choosing an appropriate filling material.
A small filling replaces a relatively limited amount of tooth structure. A larger filling generally means that more natural tooth structure has been lost or damaged.
The condition and amount of remaining tooth structure therefore form an important part of assessing how the tooth should be restored.
The Location of the Tooth
Not all teeth perform the same role.
Molars at the back of the mouth are used extensively for chewing, while front teeth have different functional requirements.
The Australian Dental Association identifies the location of the tooth as one of the factors considered when choosing an appropriate filling material.
The Amount of Healthy Tooth Remaining
The condition of the remaining natural tooth is an important consideration when deciding how it should be restored.
A filling replaces tooth structure that has been damaged or lost, but it doesn’t recreate the original natural tooth.
Where a significant amount of tooth structure has been lost, a dental professional may need to consider whether a filling or another type of restoration is appropriate.
Biting, Clenching and Grinding Forces
How your teeth come together when you bite is another consideration when selecting and maintaining a restoration.
The Australian Dental Association identifies the way the teeth bite together as one of the factors that can influence the choice of filling material.
If you clench or grind your teeth, discuss this with your dental professional. They can assess your teeth, bite and restorations and advise you about your individual circumstances.
Are Composite Fillings Suitable for Everyday Eating?
Composite resin is a commonly used tooth-coloured filling material.
According to the Australian Dental Association, composite resin can be used for fillings in both front and back teeth. The material bonds to the tooth surface and can be colour-matched to the tooth being restored.
Whether composite resin is appropriate for a particular tooth depends on factors such as:
- The size of the restoration
- Where the tooth is located
- How the teeth bite together
- The condition of the remaining tooth
- Other individual clinical considerations
There are different filling materials available, each with advantages and limitations.
Your dental professional can recommend an appropriate material based on the tooth being treated and your individual circumstances.
Can a Filling Crack or Break?
Yes.
Fillings don’t last forever.
Over time, restorations can become worn, chipped or cracked. Problems can also develop around the junction between the filling and natural tooth.
Factors that may affect a restoration include:
- Wear over time
- Biting forces
- Clenching or grinding
- New decay around the restoration
- Changes to the remaining tooth
- Injury or trauma
A damaged filling doesn’t necessarily mean the tooth needs to be removed.
Depending on the condition of the tooth and restoration, a dental professional can assess whether the filling can be repaired or replaced or whether another type of treatment may be appropriate.
If a filling feels loose, has chipped, becomes painful or suddenly feels different when you bite, arrange an assessment with your dental professional.
Are Larger Fillings as Strong as Smaller Fillings?
The size of a filling is one of several factors that can influence the choice of restorative material and treatment.
A large filling generally means that a greater amount of natural tooth structure has been lost or damaged.
The overall condition of the tooth therefore needs to be considered rather than looking at the filling alone.
Where there has been substantial loss of tooth structure, a dental professional may discuss whether a filling remains appropriate or whether another restorative option should be considered.
Depending on the individual tooth, this may include a dental crown or another type of restoration.
This doesn’t mean that every tooth with a large filling needs a crown.
The appropriate treatment depends on the condition of the individual tooth, how much healthy structure remains, the location of the tooth, the bite and other clinical factors.
How Long Do Dental Fillings Stay Strong?
There isn’t a single lifespan that applies to every dental filling.
The Australian Dental Association advises that fillings do not last forever.
Over time, the junction between a tooth and its filling can change, and fillings can become worn or damaged.
How long an individual restoration remains functional can depend on factors such as:
- The filling material
- The size of the restoration
- Where the filling is located
- How the teeth bite together
- The condition of the remaining tooth
- Oral hygiene
- Whether further decay develops
- Individual habits and circumstances
Regular dental examinations allow a dental professional to assess both the filling and the surrounding tooth.
A filling may remain functional for many years, but no particular lifespan can be guaranteed for an individual restoration.
How Can I Look After a Filled Tooth?
Looking after a restored tooth forms part of looking after your overall oral health.
The Australian Dental Association recommends:
- Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
- Cleaning between your teeth daily using floss or interdental brushes
- Eating a healthy diet that is low in added sugar
- Having regular dental check-ups
Good oral hygiene is particularly important because decay can develop around existing restorations.
If you notice persistent sensitivity, pain, a damaged filling or a change in the way a tooth feels when you bite, arrange an assessment with your dental professional.
If you clench or grind your teeth, it’s also worth discussing this with your dental professional.
When Might a Filling Not Be Enough?
A filling isn’t necessarily appropriate for every damaged tooth.
The treatment recommended will depend on the extent and location of the damage and the condition of the remaining tooth.
If a tooth has lost a significant amount of structure, a dental professional may discuss other restorative options.
Depending on the individual circumstances, treatment options may include:
- A filling
- An inlay or other indirect restoration
- A dental crown
- Root canal treatment if the pulp of the tooth is affected
- Other treatment where clinically appropriate
The appropriate option can only be determined after assessing the individual tooth.
Your dental professional can explain the available options, including their potential benefits, risks, limitations and alternatives.
What Should I Expect After a Filling?
Some people experience temporary sensitivity after having a filling.
The tooth may be sensitive when:
- Eating or drinking something hot or cold
- Eating something sweet
- Biting the teeth together
This sensitivity often settles after treatment.
If sensitivity doesn’t improve, becomes worse, or you develop pain or other symptoms, contact your dental professional for an assessment.
Your dental professional can also provide specific instructions following treatment based on the type of filling and the tooth that has been restored.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your dental professional can provide specific advice about eating after your filling based on the material used, the tooth that was treated and your individual circumstances.
If local anaesthetic was used, you may also be advised to take care while your mouth remains numb.
If you’re unsure about eating or chewing following treatment, follow the instructions provided by your dental professional.
Composite resin is a tooth-coloured filling material that can be used to restore both front and back teeth.
However, composite resin and natural tooth structure are different materials and don’t have identical properties.
Whether composite resin is appropriate depends on factors including the size and location of the restoration, how the teeth bite together and the condition of the remaining tooth.
A dental professional can recommend an appropriate restorative material for the individual tooth.
A large filling usually indicates that a greater amount of natural tooth structure has been lost or damaged.
Rather than the filling itself simply “making the tooth weaker”, the condition and amount of remaining tooth structure need to be considered.
A dental professional can assess whether a filling is appropriate or whether another type of restoration may be more suitable.
No.
Dental fillings can become worn, chipped or cracked over time, and changes can also occur around the junction between the filling and natural tooth.
How long a filling remains functional varies between individuals and depends on the tooth, filling material, restoration size, oral hygiene and other clinical factors.
Regular dental examinations can help monitor existing restorations and the surrounding teeth.
