New to our clinic and unsure about the fillings you brought with you? Coming from Rockwood, start with a review that uses your history and today’s examination to judge which restorations still serve you.
Moving to a new practice often means meeting your own mouth again through someone else’s eyes. Fillings placed years ago, by different dentists, may each be at a different stage. Some will look tired, some will be holding up nicely, and it is not always obvious which is which.
Wear develops slowly. A surface flattens, the outline softens or an edge stops fitting quite as snugly against the enamel. A first examination can only show the present moment; earlier records, where available, help reveal whether a filling has been stable for years or has changed recently. Combined with a look at the tooth around it and your bite, that context shapes sensible advice.
If you are joining us from Rockwood, ask your previous clinic to send recent records, or bring what you have. Tell us about any fillings that have bothered you and any advice you were given about wear. We will explain our findings and how we suggest handling each restoration.
A new dentist sees wear without knowing how fast it developed. Your observations and records fill that gap and show whether changes are local or widespread.
Point out any tooth that chews differently or feels smoother than before. Say whether it is comfortable. The dentist assesses the surface alongside the teeth opposite and your bite, which may also have changed over time.
A catch with floss or food sticking beside one filling may relate to its edge or contact. Other causes are possible. Mention where it happens and whether it began before or after your last dental visit elsewhere.
If an earlier dentist noted grinding, clenching or general wear, share it. The overall pattern matters, and a single replacement may not address a concern that involves several teeth.
There is no set date by which every filling should be redone. Its current condition, the tooth around it and its function guide the decision far better than age.
Where treatment is indicated, it should restore a useful surface and a contact you can clean, while taking account of why the wear occurred. That may be a limited repair or a new restoration. If our advice differs from what you heard before, ask us to explain the finding behind it.
The chosen material and contour should suit the work that tooth does. When wear is widespread or bite-related, one replacement may be only part of care. Understanding that from the start makes the overall plan easier to follow.
Patient information: Cleveland Clinic — filling longevity and maintenance
Ask whether a concern relates to the surface, the margin, the tooth beneath or something else. That makes it easier to compare advice from different dentists and to see why a filling might be replaced rather than kept.
Many older fillings may be suited to monitoring, and some to local repair. Ask which can stay as they are. The answer depends on the defect and whether the result will be maintainable.
Let the dentist know about habits that load your teeth. Protective advice or a broader wear assessment may be relevant, because a new filling still has to cope with the same forces.
An initial appointment is usually an assessment. Treatment may follow at the same visit or later, depending on the findings and your preferences.
Previous notes and images are read alongside a direct examination of each filling’s surfaces and edges, the surrounding tooth and your bite. New imaging is taken if it would add useful information.
The dentist sorts restorations into those to monitor, repair or replace, and explains why. Ask about materials, fees and timing. For any filling being watched, agree on what will be compared at the next visit.
When work proceeds, comfort measures and isolation are used. How much of an old filling is removed depends on what is found in it and the tooth beneath. The new or repaired surface is shaped for its function.
The finished work is checked against nearby and opposing teeth, and the findings become part of your record here. Ask about cleaning and follow-up, and confirm any further assessment of wider wear.
Follow the instructions for your repair. You do not need to chew anything unusually hard to see if the new surface is working.
Avoid chewing until full feeling returns, and be careful with hot drinks. Follow any advice about the material or a temporary stage. Ask when you can use the tooth normally if you are unsure.
Call if the treated tooth seems to meet first or chewing remains uncomfortable. Describe a normal bite instead of clenching to test it. A short review can examine the restoration and any other cause.
Continue cleaning and attend the reviews recommended here. If a guard for grinding was suggested before or now, ask how it fits your routine, and tell us about any appliance problems.
You should understand the present condition of your fillings and why each recommendation has been made.
Arrange a first visit at our Bronte Street practice and bring any records you have. We will look at your fillings in context and explain whether each one is best monitored, repaired or replaced.
If a tooth hurts or a filling breaks, call the clinic. Online requests are for non-urgent appointments.
