How long will a resin-filled tooth remain working? Actually, even a dental professional cannot give you a definite answer. There are a lot of factors that will impact the result, so its service life would vary from one case to another. 

    First of all, the resin material can be divided into different types, including nanoment resin and composite resin. Compared with other materials, resin has gained an extensive application. On one hand, its color is close to that of natural teeth, capable of yielding an aesthetic result. On the other, the material is harmless to human body. 

    Besides, where the cavity is located will also lay an impact on the final result. Whether it happens to front or back teeth, occlusal or proximal surface will all lead to different outcome. In some cases, the filling material is susceptible to falling out due to the bad position of the cavity. 

    Above all, the technique level of your dentist plays a decisive role. Even with the same material, there will be a big difference between the dental work done by an excellent dentist and that by an unqualified one. It would be advisable for you to have the cavity filled by an experienced and skillful dentist, for the sake of a successful procedure. 

    When other conditions are almost the same, how long the repaired tooth will remain functioning majorly depends on the aftercare you implement.

    Have you always maintained good oral hygiene? Without effective cleaning, chances are that caries-causing bacteria will again gather in your mouth, resulting in secondary caries at the repaired place or new cavities on other teeth. Therefore, it’s important that you carry out such practices as teeth brushing and mouth rinsing following the completion of a dental filling procedure.

    How do you use your repaired tooth afterwards? If you often use it to eat hard foods like crabs, ribs and sugarcane, your filling material is more likely to come out over time. Though a filled tooth looks like a natural one, it’s not the same as a natural one after all. So you have to take really good care of it after the restoration. 

    In clinical practices, some patients’ resin-filled teeth are strong enough to remain for a few decades, while some suffer from secondary caries or shedding of filling material within a month. So with a cavity properly filled, it’s then up to you to decide how long it will stand. Relevant article: Chronic incisor abrasion

    What can you do if the filling material has fallen out?

    No doubt, you have to book another appointment with your dentist as soon as possible to find out the underlying reason why the filling comes out. Only when the cause is identified can your dentist conduct proper treatment to fix it. If left untreated, there may be development of secondary caries or other severer issues. At that moment, it’s a root canal therapy instead of a simple filling procedure that you may need. 

    In closing, regular follow-up visits bear a great significance after dental filling procedure. Besides, you have to schedule cleanings regularly as well, in order to early detect potential problems and have them fixed in time. Form a good habit of oral care, including brushing, rinsing and flossing.

    Please feel free to contact me if there’s any dental problem. (WeChat ID: aiyuan325180)