How common are infections in teeth with fillings?

Question

My mother got an infection in a tooth that had a filling. Is this common? How often do teeth with filled cavities get infections as opposed to teeth with unfilled cavities?

Answer 1

Worry about the drunk in the other lane.
Worry about washing your hands during cold & flu season.
Worry about how much trans fat your eating.
Worry about leaving our kids a world where Christians and Muslims can't get along.
But don't worry about the increased chance of an infection from a filled (or unfilled tooth). Get a good dentist, get second opinions on major work, and if you must worry, worry about one of the first four items.

Answer 2

I think you're looking at this in the wrong way.
Fillings don't cause infections in teeth. It is the hole that was there in the first place that led to the damage, either directly or indirectly. The dentist is the one trying to fix it.
Decay is a bacterial process that will allow bacteria to penetrate the tooth. After the decay is removed by the dentist, you have to hope that the tooth can recover. Sometimes the teeth will "die" months or years later. Simply, the bigger the hole, then the less likely the chance of recovery.
Prevention is always better than cure, so look after your teeth. I wish I'd done the same when I was a little boy.
Except in rare circumstances, UNDECAYED teeth (not UNFILLED teeth) don't develop infections. It is not the filling that is the problem.

Answer 3

THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT QUESTION TO ANSWER. THE CAUSES CAN BE ANY OF A NUMBER OF THINGS. THE SECOND PART OF A QUESTION IS ALSO HARD TO ANSWER. THE ONLY LOGICAL QUESTION IS THAT WITHOUT KNOWING THE HISTORY BEHIND WHAT OCCURRED TO THIS PARTICULAR TOOTH IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO ANSWER. DENTISTS ARE NOT ALL-KNOWING, AND MOST OF THE INTERNET RESPONDERS ARE NOT DENTISTS. SORRY.