4 Ways DIY Tooth Fillings Can Harm Your Oral Health

Tooth repair kits that allow people to make repairs themselves (DIY) are sold on several internet sites as well as at medicine stores, and since the availability of DIY tooth repair kit is rapidly increasing people do not want to see a dentist because the kits provide a speedy, affordable way to fix a tooth without having to go through any of the pain of going to a dentist.

While fixing a tooth at home may seem like an easy and inexpensive option, is it really safe? There are other alternatives to check out.

The truth is, there is no way a DIY tooth repair kit can provide the same level of quality, safety, and effectiveness as a dentist would for their patient. A DIY tooth repair kit does not address the underlying problem; it may actually exacerbate the condition, leading to serious long-term oral health issues.

Dr Suresh outlines in the following article why attempting to fill your own tooth could be hazardous and why dentists strongly advise against it.

What are DIY tooth fillings?

• DIY dental fillings are over-the-counter materials  used to temporarily cover a cavity or a chipped tooth.
• These fillings are found as kits sold over the counter that require no involvement from a professional dentist.
• The purpose of these kits is to relieve discomfort and protect the tooth from any further damage for a small period of time.
• These temporary solutions do not eliminate the underlying problem of decay and/or infection.

Why Do Dentists Recommend Not Performing Your Own Tooth Fillings?

• After a cavity has formed in the enamel due to damage,the discomfort from this damage can be significant.
• Food gets trapped in the cavity, which makes the tooth sensitive to the touch and could result in irritation to nearby soft tissue from the “sharp” edges.
• If treatment is not undertaken, this area may experience discomfort, swelling, and possibly further damage over time.
• Professionally placed fillings restore the original shape and functional properties of the tooth as well as protect the tooth from further decay and decrease sensitivity and pain.
• Fillings are routine procedures performed by professionals who have received training and have access to the necessary tools to carry out the procedure.

While you may think that performing your own tooth filling is an easy solution, it typically results in complications. Below are the common complications of DIY tooth fillings.

1. The Effect of DIY Fillings on Bite Issues

• When the dentist completes the dental restoration, he checks whether it fits correctly into your bite and works with other teeth.
• The dentist has a special paper that shows where the completed restoration will touch against other teeth (marks).
• If the dentist identifies an area where the marked lines created by biting the paper do not line up, then the area needs to be filed down or polished.
• With a DIY filling kit, you may not have the same tools or techniques to determine where the newly filled tooth should be placed in relation to the bite and other teeth.
• Over time, this can lead to either cracking or excessive wear of your teeth as well as headaches or pain in your jaw.

2. The DIY method does not solve the problem

• Fillings are generally utilised to repair teeth that were damaged due to dental caries (cavities). Dentists always remove decayed tissue from a tooth prior to placing a filling, using special tools to ensure no remaining infection is trapped under the filling material.
• When you purchase a tooth repair kit, it contains nothing like the tools used by the dentist to effectively remove the infected tissue from the cavity.
• A cavity can still cause a tooth to be infected and can continue to grow within the tooth if it is just covered, leading to more serious infections and pain.

3. DIY Tooth fillings are not long-lasting

• While professional fillings offer extensive bonding and durability against chewing/biting as well as strength,DIY fillings do not have the same bonding capabilities and strength.
• Poor adhesion combined with continued decay underneath the filling leads to rapid loosening or complete loss of the DIY repairs.
• In addition to exposing the tooth again to additional decay, this also results in an increased risk of future damage and the development of infection.

4. The DIY Tooth Repair Kit will be different from the natural tooth colour

• Most of the tooth repair kits contain materials made using zinc oxide. The type of filling known as Zinc Oxide Eugenol (ZOE) can be useful in some cases when performed by a dentist, but there are no aesthetic benefits.
• The colour of zinc oxide has a tendency to be either an off-white or a white colour, which does not match the natural colour of your teeth.
• Dentists provide tooth-colored fillings that will match your natural enamel colour very closely, and these fillings provide more strength and durability than DIY tooth repair kits.

Final Overview:

Home dental filling supplies may seem like they could help you regain a healthy smile, but they won’t do anything to repair your teeth unless they are performed by a licensed professional! Do-it-yourself (DIY) Kits should only be used in emergency cases until you are able to seek local dental treatment.

When it comes to pain, trouble eating or having difficulties smiling because of decay in your mouth, it’s important to have a qualified dentist diagnose these problems prior to attempting a repair.