Problems after Amalgam Dental Filling
Dental fillings are done in order to restore a carious tooth to its normal form and function. Various materials have been used as filling materials. The most commonly used materials are composites and silver amalgam. Though the fillings are done for normal functioning of the tooth they may cause several problems.
Problems Associated With Amalgam Restorations
After dong the amalgam filling the patient may face the various problems. It is not always that the problems are there but some times either because of wrong diagnosis or because of poor handling of the material the problems can be there. These are
Secondary Caries -This is the most common problem with the amalgam fillings. The secondary caries are the caries or decay which forms after the filling is done and all the initial decay is removed. It happens because of the micro gaps which develops between the filing and the teeth which can cause micro leakage. This can be there if the filling is not doe properly or there is shrinkage after the setting of the filling due to poor mixing of the amalgam. If secondary caries are there then food lodgment is there and the patient may have hot ad cold sensation. Some times if it is deep then pain can be there. treatment is to replace the filling with the new one after removing the decay.
Marginal Fracture – Some times the silver filling fractures at the margin because it is weakest as there is no bulk and secondly the masticatory forces are quite high in that area. If the fracture goes unnoticed even then the symptoms are there like patients complaints of hot and cold sensation and some times pain. Treatment is to replace the filling.
Tooth Fracture - Some times the filing is so big that the remaining tooth structure is less or the cavity preparation is not correct. This causes the fracture of the tooth. If the fracture occurs and the tooth is restorable the fractured tooth is restored but if the tooth is not restorable the crown is given on the tooth after doing the root canal treatment.
Pain after Dental Filling - After restoration if pain is there immediately or after a day or two then there is a possibility that the filling is high. In that case the selective grinding will serve the purpose but f the pain persists then it may be because of the deep cavity which is causing pain in the tooth. The treatment for this is to remove the filing and treat the tooth . If required then root canal treatment is done and crown is given