Dentists warn that fillings “could do more harm than good”
Senior dentists have warned that fillings could do more harm than good, as they called on colleagues to ensure that they use up-to-date techniques. If they are done badly, fillings can actually increase decay, and mean more fillings are needed in other teeth, dentists said.
Experts believe the trauma caused by the initial filling may explain why neighbouring teeth become prone to infection.
The research, published in the Journal of Dentistry, showed that some dentists are more likely than others to have patients who develop new decay after a filling. The study found that 6 out of 10 teeth which were next to a filling had also decayed after five years. Almost 30% of these decaying teeth needed filling.
Professor Walmsley, a leading dental expert at Birmingham University, said that “Once a dentist has gone into a tooth, they may accidentally damage another tooth. Dentists need to keep up to date with the latest techniques to ensure they don’t damage other teeth when they do a filling.”
Experts emphasised the importance of fillings, as there is no alternative solution when teeth are decayed to the extent they need to be replaced. However, they went on to say that dentists must be careful with their approach, using “minimal intervention” to reduce the chance of damaging teeth.
They also said patients needed to be particularly careful about taking care of their teeth after a filling, reducing sugar intake and brushing properly.
Simen Kopperud, of the Nordic Institute of Dental Materials in Oslo, Norway, who led the study, said that “It is highly possible that the intervention by the dentist causes a problem in adjacent teeth. Fillings are not an ideal solution but at the moment it’s the best solution we have.”
Dr Kopperud also noted that dentists “need to be aware of the risks” and consider greater use of new treatments.
He also urged patients to be vigilant about oral hygiene once they have had a filling, as the risk of decay is higher in patients who eat sugary snacks and drinks, or do not brush teeth properly.
He continued to say that “Dentists should think very carefully about what they are doing and as dentists we need all to keep up to date and be aware of new methods to minimise damage to patients’ teeth.”
