As we get older, many of us assume our childhood fillings are set for life. However, metal and composite materials eventually degrade, creating tiny gaps where bacteria thrive. These “leaks” often don’t cause any pain until the nerve is already involved.
Another common mistake is ignoring small chips in older crowns, which can trap food and cause localized gum recession. Keeping an eye on these legacy repairs is vital for saving the natural tooth.
Have any of you had an old filling fail unexpectedly lately? How often does your dentist check the integrity of your vintage dental work? I would love to hear your experiences with updates versus repairs!
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I just had this happen! A filling from the late 80s cracked and I didn’t even feel it until the tooth actually split. Definitely get them checked during your cleanings.
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My dentist uses a tiny intraoral camera now to show me the cracks on a big screen. It is really eye-opening to see what is going on back there.
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I’m 68 and still have most of my original silver fillings. My dentist says if they aren’t broken, don’t fix them. Is that bad advice? Now I’m worried about what is underneath.
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Responding to @SilverFox68, my guy says the same thing. ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ But ‘broken’ to a dentist might mean something different than it does to us. I had one leak and it turned into a full root canal because I waited. Better safe than sorry in my opinion.
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I wish I had known this sooner. I lost a molar last year because of a 30-year-old filling that failed silently. No pain, just a sudden crunch while eating toast.
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Does anyone know if insurance covers replacing them before they actually hurt? Mine is so stingy with ‘preventative’ work on old restorations once you hit a certain age.
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Insurance is the worst for this. They usually wait for the disaster. I’ve started putting aside a little ‘tooth fund’ every month just in case because these old crowns are like ticking time bombs.
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