Exact Answer: From A Year To 20 Years
Temporary fixes are preferred all over the world. People prefer to choose something temporary so that they can understand what it feels like. They will also learn how to take care of it, and how long it will last.
Temporary fixes are used in every field and these fixes also help the professional to test out their characteristics, if they can be made permanent. Even the medical field uses temporary fixes until they test out the permanent ones. One such temporary fix in dental medicine is the temporary fillings.
When somebody keeps eating drinks and foods with high levels of sugar in them, it can cause tooth decay, otherwise known as cavities. When somebody constantly eats something with a high level of sugar in them, it is necessary to clean and floss the teeth regularly so that particles of the food don’t get stuck in the mouth.
How Long Does A Temporary Filling Last?
| All about temporary fillings | Time |
| The minimum lifespan of temporary fillings | 6 To 8 Weeks |
| The average lifespan of temporary fillings | 6 months to 1 year |
| The maximum lifespan of temporary fillings | 10 To 15 Years |
When these particles get stuck and are not cleaned properly, after a while, bacteria will start forming and in the end, it can cause tooth decay, where the tooth turns brown and black, and starts deteriorating. When the teeth deteriorate, it is hard for the person to chew or eat something, since the teeth with cavities will start hurting.
A person who has cavities will notice black and brown stains on their teeth, and once the cavities get worst, holes will start forming on the teeth, which can further lead to sharp pain and sensitivity in the tooth. To fill the holes and prevent any sort of further damage, it is necessary to fill them with something. Some people choose temporary fillings, while some choose temporary fillings first.
A dental filling will help the dentists prevent the teeth from decaying further, and it can also be used to replace some parts of the damaged tooth. Before choosing anything permanent, the dentists normally prefer temporary fillings at the first, so that they can know what exactly fits the requirements of the patient.
Temporary fillings don’t last long, they are a semi-permanent solution, and when the patient likes the temporary fix, they can schedule an appointment with their dentist, to get a permanent filling.
Why Do Temporary Fillings Last That Long?
Temporary fillings are also used when the patient is experiencing extreme pain due to the cavities and to stop this severe pain, temporary fillings can be used. Permanent fillings take longer to fit, so temporary fixes are better and some dentists even put in a temporary cap. They put this in when the patient has a deep cavity, and a dental crown must be placed over the tooth, which is a cap.
Root canals are also performed on badly decayed teeth, so the dentists remove the cavity and the decay, which leaves a hole inside the tooth, and this can be filled with temporary fillings and seals. This will prevent the food and bacteria from entering into the teeth and causing pain. After the root canal heals, a permanent filling will be used.
When the sensitive nerves are exposed in a tooth, a temporary filling can be used to seal it up, until the nerve settles down and the teeth heal. Temporary fillings are normally made up of zinc oxide eugenol, zinc phosphate cement, glass ionomers, Cavit, amalgam, composite fillings, porcelain and gold inlays and outlays, and some other semi-permanent restorative materials.
Conclusion
Temporary fillings are don’t match the color of the teeth so that the dentists can easily identify where the temporary filling is, but on the other hand, permanent fillings are available in the color of natural teeth. Temporary fillings, on the other hand, are normally available in the color of whitish-grey, blue or pink, or sometimes bright white.
Normally, temporary fillings last for 2 to 3 months without any sort of special care and the average life of temporary fillings is about 6 months to a year.
According to dentists, temporary fillings can last for even 10 years or more, and multiple factors determine how long a temporary filling lasts. It all depends on what materials are used, dental hygiene, if decay happens around the filling, how the teeth grind the food, eating habits, trauma to the teeth, and much more.
References
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0099239999801198
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/00220345390180010401
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