A Look Into Why Dental Fillings Can Fail

Research published in Frontiers in Medicine looked into amalgam and composite dental fillings and a number of factors which might lead them to fail.

A few of the factors looked at included age, sex, drinking alcohol, smoking, periodontal health, diabetes, and genetics. Records of 4,856 individuals over five years were included as a part of the study.

Some of the findings of the paper include:

Both Composite and amalgam fillings performed about the same, with composite having a slight edge

Composite fillings are the more modern, white fillings, while amalgam is the silver-colored dental fillings which have been used by dentists for more than 150 years. During the duration of the study, the team found that the failure rates for amalgam and composite filings were similar, with the newer composite fillings doing just a little better.

Fillings fail at a higher rate for men who smoke and drinkers

Of the lifestyle factors looked at, smoking and alcohol use was found to have the most prominent correlation with the failing of dental fillings. 2 years after having dental fillings, the rate of failure was greatest in male smokers and in individuals who drank alcohol regularly.

Genetics may play a part for dental fillings that fail

A gene for matrix metalloproteinase (MMP2), which is an enzyme found in teeth, was examined by those involved with the study. MMP2 can break down the attachment between a filling and tooth, suggested the research team. The team suggested that a person’s genetic makeup might be more important in dentistry one day. According to one of the researchers, Alexandre Vieira: “In the future, genetic information may be used to personalize dental treatments and enhance treatment outcomes.”

The study further enforces the idea that composite fillings should be seen as a reasonable replacement for traditional amalgam fillings. Dental patients might like to consider the correlation between smoking and drinking and the failure of dental fillings also.

If you haven’t had your dental fillings checked recently, consider booking your next appointment for an exam with Dr. Faist now.