In simpler terms, a dental filling is any material that a dentist uses to fill a hole in your tooth. This hole may be a gap left after drilling and removing decay, or it may be caused by a chip or other damage. There are two types of dental fillings: Composite fillings, which are white in color and therefore more aesthetically pleasing. problems caused by filling Amalgam filling is more common and is silver gray in color. Although modern oral health care has changed dramatically toward preventive and cosmetic dentistry, there is still a place for fillings, and for many people, they are the treatment most likely to be offered. Depending on the size of the filling, a composite filling lasts an average of 8 years, while an amalgam filling can be expected to stay in place for 12 years. Although fillings are very common and rarely cause problems, there are problems that come with them, which we will explain in more detail below: ### pain There are different types of pain that may occur following a dental filling, and each type is caused by a different reason. Pain during biting, shortly after the local anesthesia wears off, the patient begins to feel pain when biting, and the pain does not go away over time. This means that the filling has disturbed the natural bite of your tooth and you need to see a dentist to change its shape. Pain when the teeth are touched, this is a sharp, shocking pain, almost like an electric shock that occurs when two teeth are touched. This is likely caused when two different types of metal come into contact inside the mouth, such as an amalgam filling and a gold crown. These types of pain should go away after a while. Toothache, if a filling is placed in a hole caused by the removal of decay, toothache after treatment may indicate that the inside of the tooth is not healthy. In this situation, denervation may be needed. Referred Pain – This is when the pain you feel after a filling is actually felt in a tooth other than the one being filled. Generally nothing to worry about as it just means that the filled tooth is sending pain signals to other teeth and should disappear within a few weeks. ### allergy In some rare cases, the metals used in amalgam fillings, such as mercury, may cause an allergic reaction. Allergy symptoms are standard skin such as itching and rash, and affected patients often have a family history of metal allergy. If so, another type of filler should be used in the future. ### decline Over time, dental fillings may begin to deteriorate and be lost due to factors such as chewing and grinding. If the gap between the filling and the tooth becomes large enough, it can harbor food debris and bacteria, which in turn can lead to decay or even the formation of an abscess. The good news is that if you go in for regular checkups, your dentist should be able to detect any damage to your fillings before problems start. If a larger filling has occurred or more decay has occurred, there may not be enough tooth structure left to support the new filling. In this case, your dentist will place a crown instead. Care of filled teeth Anesthesia: Local anesthesia means that one side of your mouth will be numb for up to 3 hours after the filling. In this case, you should be careful not to chew food where your mouth is numb, so as not to accidentally injure your lips, cheek, or tongue. Children who are prescribed fillings should be closely monitored, as the unusual sensation of numbness may encourage them to chew. Sensitivity: In the days after the treatment, the tooth or filled teeth may be sensitive to sensations such as heat and cold or the pressure of biting. This will likely last a few days, up to a few weeks in most cases, and is nothing to worry about as long as the sensitivity does not worsen over time. Bite down: If you experience pain after biting down after anesthesia, contact your dentist as this may mean that your filling needs to be reshaped. Gums: The gums around the filled tooth may be sore and tender for a few days, and there may be additional bruising around the area where the anesthetic was injected. Chewing: Patients should refrain from chewing any amalgam filling for 24 hours after using it. Composite fillings, on the other hand, can withstand the pressure of chewing food once the anesthetic wears off. Although modern dentistry is committed to reducing the number of preventive treatments needed to a minimum, there may still be cases where patients need a tooth or several teeth filled at the same time. In this case, you should protect the filling immediately after treatment, and you should contact your dentist immediately if you have any concerns.