Blog Post

Why did my dental filling keep dropping out?

Dr Gordon Tam • Oct 24, 2020

Every thing has its expiry date. A dental filling is to replace a missing surface of our tooth structure. It does not last forever, not even our real tooth. Apart from the usual eating and wear & tear, many of us may wonder how long do our dental fillings last.

Almost all of us needed a dental filling at some point of time in our lives. A dental filling is a restoration work done to our tooth that might have chipped off or decay. There are several choices of materials used to replace the partial missing tooth structure. 

Dental fillings will deteriorate over time, due to wear and tear, bad habits, or even simply they were not properly done in the first place.

Reasons for dental fillings to drop:

  1. Tooth decay between the filling and the tooth
  2. The filling material cannot sustain the bite force
  3. A dental filling is too large with limited retention tooth structure
  4. Bad habits like teeth grinding

What happens when you don’t repair the missing filling?


When a dental filling is chipped, broken, or dropped off, you need to repair it as soon as possible. The first thing you might notice when the filling has dropped off is when you realized there are sharp uneven edges on the tooth surface that were not there before. Or you may have just bit on the pieces of filling that dropped off. 


You need to contact your dentist to get an appointment to replace that. Currently, this tooth is unprotected, exposing the inner layers of the tooth. This may lead to a few possibilities.

  • Tooth sensitivity as the dentin layer is exposed
  • Food and bacteria get into the tooth, causing tooth decay
  • Sharp edges of the tooth may cut your tongue and lips
  • Existing tooth structure is weaken and potentially crack if you bite on something hard

Different types of dental fillings

Ceramic

  • Durability 10 years and more
  • Bonds well with existing tooth structure
  • Costly due to the durability


Gold 

  • Durability 10-15 years
  • Aesthetically more pleasing than silver amalgam
  • More costly than silver amalgam 
  • Not suitable for those who wanted tooth-colored fillings

Silver amalgam

  • Durability 10-15 years
  • Aesthetically not pleasing
  • Low cost 
  • Material is prone to react to temperatures, hard to accommodate to our tooth biology
  • Easy to crack and fractures over time
  • Mercury in amalgam may cause adverse effects to our body if ingested

Tooth color composite

  • Durability 5-10 years 
  • Aesthetically pleasing
  • Able to match the tooth color
  • Good bond and versatility
  • Cost more than silver amalgam and GIC


Glass Ionomer (GIC)

  • Soft material not meant for long term restoration
  • Usually used on kids or as a temporary filling
  • Prone to wear and tear and fracture
  • One of the most affordable choices of dental filling material

Other metals

The choice of dental filling materials may be determined by a few factors. During the oral dental examination, our doctor will check through every tooth and advise you on any dental issues to take note of. These treatments will be clearly reflected in the customized treatment plan where treatment options, fees, and duration are stated.

  • Size of the filling
  • Location of the tooth (eg. Molar, premolar, incisor, etc)
  • Budget

The longevity of the dental fillings 


We conduct thorough tooth-by-tooth examination, taking intraoral photographs and dental X-rays, where you get to see what we see. Our doctor will advise you on any dental concerns with a customised treatment plan that reflects the treatment options, fees and duration. You get to restore your oral health with the recommended treatment options and materials.


No dental restorations last forever, not even your natural teeth. We need to exert our own due diligence to protect our own assets (teeth). Apart from the usual wear and tear, our doctor will advise our clients especially when it is noted that they have habits of teeth grinding.


In order to protect your (dental) investments, you are highly recommended to wear a nightguard. It not only protects your teeth against teeth grinding or clenching, but it also helps to make your dental fillings last longer. 


When our teeth require repair to restore to its original function, aesthetic, and health, it is important that we take good care of our teeth. With a healthy set of teeth and gums, we are able to enjoy the quality of life, and we do not need to worry much about avoiding certain food if we have weak or missing teeth. 


Human beings are social beings where we interact with people. It is worth your time and effort to make sure you get things done right and speak and smile with confidence with a nice set of teeth and gums.


Contact us now to find out how we can help you restore, maintain, and improve your oral concerns!


For more information and consultation, please contact Smile Design Dental Practice at +65 6463 8588.


To serve you better, we are available by Appointment Only. 

Please contact us to schedule for an appointment.

Is lemon water good or bad for you?

By Dr. Gordon Tam • 11 Oct, 2019
Why would you drink lemon water? In recent years, lemon water is widely accepted for the benefits that many believed to have. Lemon contains antibacterial, antioxidants properties and it is packed with the essential minerals and vitamins that are helpful for our bodies. It can help to reduce the risk of health issues, boost kidney and skin conditions, fight infections and improve our overall well-being. It is believed that when adding lemon to water, it creates a healthy concoction that provides electrolytes and hydration that our body needs. Lemon water is simply adding freshly juiced lemon to water. The ratio of lemon to water and to consume hot or cold is entirely up to the individual. Such simple concoction has created a big hype among the health-conscious group of people. People who tried many methods turned to lemon water for solution. Those who wanted to slim down but do not like to exercise may believe that as lemon is acidic, it will help to curb their appetite, burns fats and eventually slim down without needing to do much exercises. However, lemon water should be used in combination with a healthy diet and an active lifestyle to obtain results. Naturopaths believe in using natural remedies or solutions to solve their health issues. The choice of lemon is vital. You should be using organic lemons to make sure that the source of lemon is of high quality and not contaminated by any pesticides. As the preparation of lemon water is easy and lemon is conveniently sold, many people see this as a healthy beverage they can have easily.

Don’t drink another glass of lemon water before reading this!

By Dr Gordon Tam • 14 Apr, 2024
Why does drinking lemon water become a trend? Lemon water is simply adding freshly juiced lemon to water. The ratio of lemon to water and to consume hot or cold is entirely up to the individual. Such simple concoction has created a big hype among the health-conscious group of people. It is believed that when adding lemon to water, it creates a healthy concoction that provides electrolytes and hydration that our body needs. Those who want to slim down but do not like to exercise may believe that as lemon is acidic, it will help to curb their appetite, burn fats and eventually slim down without needing to do much exercise. However, lemon water should be used in combination with a healthy diet and an active lifestyle to obtain results. People who tried many (weight loss) methods had turned to lemon water for solution. Naturopaths believe in using natural remedies or solutions to solve their health issues. The choice of lemon is vital. You should be using organic lemons to make sure that the source of lemon is of high quality and not contaminated by any pesticides. As the preparation of lemon water is easy and lemon is conveniently sold, many people see this as a healthy beverage they can have easily.

Understanding gum recession and the treatments

By Dr Gordon Tam • 12 Apr, 2024
Apart from a nice set of teeth, having a set of healthy and pink looking gums are as important.

10 main causes of food trap

By Dr. Gordon Tam • 05 Apr, 2024
The food trap is one of the most common complains we hear. It happens during eating when food got trapped in between your teeth. Sometimes you can remove them, but most of the time you can’t do it without flossing. This food trap may eventually lead to tooth decay or gum inflammation if left untreated. You may have experienced some embarrassing moments where a piece of salad green is trapped in between your teeth are visible to others but you may not even notice it. It can be annoying and creating discomfort when there is a big chunk of steak trapped at the back of your teeth. Apart from the awkward moments of food trap, sometimes when the food trap gets to the gums, it can irritate the gums, causing your gums to swell and sore. Although it is common, it is not normal. There are many contributing reasons for the food trap issue.

Gum Care for Pregnancy

By Dr. Gordon Tam • 20 Mar, 2024
It must be exciting to prepare yourself to get pregnant. While many women go for medical checkups, it may not occur to you that dental health is as important too. At Smile Design Dental Practice, we pay special attention to our pregnant patients as well as those who are planning for a baby. Hormonal changes are expected during pregnancy. However we will not know how much it will affect you, in terms of overall well-being, appetite, mood swings, body changes and oral condition. It is common for pregnant women to experience swollen and bleeding gums. If you already have such issues before you get pregnant, chances for these issues to magnify during pregnancy are much higher.

Things that our dentist will look out for during a routine dental appointment

By Dr Gordon Tam • 11 Sep, 2020
Many thought routine dental appointments are merely just about cleaning teeth. You are only half right! We do more than just a routine dental cleaning. You understand the importance of maintaining good oral habits at home and religiously come for your routine dental appointment to get the professional maintenance done. We are here to monitor and update your oral condition.

Top 3 most common dental fears

By Dr Gordon Tam • 14 Aug, 2020
What are you afraid of to see a dentist?  We want to understand more about what are the most common dental fears among you and me. In order to address these fears, we must first know what they are.   Fear of the Unknown Fear of Pain Bill Shock    We commonly hear from our patients these few fears that are holding them back from making a dental appointment or even to cancel one at the last minute!

Facts you should know about fluoride

By Dr Gordon Tam • 21 May, 2020
Functions of fluoride Fluoride is a natural mineral that is found in our body (bones and teeth), and the natural environments such as water, soil, plants, rocks and even in the air. Fluoride is important to us especially to our teeth as it helps to strengthen the most outer layer, the enamel and fights against cavities. The most common products you used with fluoride in it are our water (in SIngapore’s context) and toothpastes. Prevent demineralization caused by the loss of minerals by strengthening the structure of tooth to prevent bacteria on tooth surface from ‘eating away’ the enamel Direct application of fluoride to reduce tooth sensitivity Increase the rate of remineralization Helps to fight against acid produced by plaque, blocking harmful enzymes that weakens the tooth enamel

Do not buy another toothpaste before reading this!

By Dr Gordon Tam • 08 May, 2020
Your choice of toothpaste may be different from your family members. Do not worry about being odd here. You are not alone. It is only right for you to find the correct toothpaste that suits your needs and oral condition. Likewise if you have young children at home. Their toothpaste is totally different from adults! We often place emphasis on selecting the correct toothbrushes for ourselves and our family members. It is important to get toothbrushes with soft bristles, so that we can clean more thoroughly, reaching most of the surfaces of our teeth. The selection of toothpastes is equally important to compliment the importance of maintaining routine oral hygiene.

The Importance of Flossing

By Dr. Gordon Tam • 21 Apr, 2020
What is a dental floss? A dental floss is a thin cord of filaments that we used to remove any food stuck in between our teeth and areas that a toothbrush is unable to reach. The most common and popular dental floss in the market, and often most recommended by dentists is the one that is wax coated. As it is wax coated, it is more gentle on our gums and leaves a minty taste after flossing.
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