Filling Replacement

Replacing old fillings is a standard part of maintaining oral health, and at Evans Dental Care in Williamsburg, we’re particularly interested in biocompatible dentistry. To spare our patients discomfort, we want them to be able to recognize when a filling needs to be replaced.

Fillings replace parts of the enamel that have been drilled away. While patients are numbed during the drilling, it is normal for them to feel tender for a few days afterward. But if the patient has difficulty closing their teeth together or the filling appears to be leaking, it needs to be reshaped as soon as possible.

The bonding that is used to cement fillings in place lasts for about ten years. After that, it cracks, providing bacteria with a place to feed and cause more decay. Patients should have old fillings replaced before this happens, but we also urge patients to get fillings replaced sooner if they are made of amalgam. This material contains mercury, and besides being unattractive, it is also unhealthy. Our office is equipped to remove mercury safely and replace it with white-colored resin. The process of replacing a filling also provides dentists with an opportunity to see whether the enamel covered by the filling has cracked.

Dr. Peter Evans operates Evans Dental Care at 103 Bulifants Blvd., Suite B, Williamsburg, Virginia, 23188. To schedule an appointment, visit Evans Dental Care or call 757-349-8877.