Frequently Asked Question: “Does Drilling Weaken Teeth?”

One of the most common questions we receive from patients is:

“Does drilling weaken teeth?”

The answer is simply “Yes, it does.”

In the past, standard dental treatment meant drilling out cavities and filling them with silver fillings as soon as they were found.

However, science now clearly shows that “the more you drill, the weaker the tooth becomes.”

Traditional Treatment Flow and Its Problems

Looking back at old treatments, many people experienced this cycle:

1. Cavity forms → Drill and fill with silver amalgam
2. Recurrence or pain occurs → Remove the nerve, drill extensively, and place a crown
3. Tooth cracks → Extract and replace with a bridge
4. Drill adjacent teeth as well → Treatment chain continues

This cycle often ultimately leads to tooth loss.

Why?

Because it fails to address the root cause of cavities.

Cavities occur when lifestyle habits and oral conditions cause the bacterial flora to become acidic, dissolving the tooth.

Drilling and filling is merely symptomatic treatment; it does not eliminate the cause.

Why Drilling Actually Weakens Teeth

So why does drilling weaken teeth?

• Teeth with Root Canals Lose 70% of Their Strength Typically, after a root canal, the entire tooth is ground down and covered with a crown. However, it’s known that at this point, the tooth becomes about 70% weaker.
• Silver Fillings Are Too Hard Compared to Teeth Metal fillings are harder than teeth. When biting force is applied, they act like a wedge, concentrating force in a direction that can crack the tooth.
• Metal cannot bond to teeth To secure metal fillings, healthy tooth structure must be drilled into, creating grooves or holes. This means sacrificing healthy, non-carious parts of the tooth.

The only benefit is that it’s “cheap treatment,” but

the system allowing small silver fillings to be redone under insurance after six months and crowns after two years also contributes to repeated treatments.

A mindset for preserving teeth

It’s often said that a single tooth typically reaches its limit after about 4-5 treatments.

That’s precisely why reducing the number of times we drill and “preserving as much tooth structure as possible” is crucial.

My personal approach is:

• Review lifestyle habits to lower cavity risk
• Avoid unnecessary drilling and carefully assess the timing of treatment
• When drilling is necessary, preserve as much enamel as possible and reinforce with ceramic

I believe these choices are the best way to extend a tooth’s lifespan.

Summary

• Teeth inevitably weaken when they are drilled.
• Silver fillings do not address the root cause and increase the risk of needing retreatment.
• To make teeth last longer, it is essential to focus on “removing the cause” and “minimizing the amount of tooth structure removed.”
• Advances in ceramic materials and bonding techniques now allow for treatments that reinforce and preserve teeth.

It is crucial to understand “what happens when teeth are drilled?” before considering treatment options.

If you are interested, please feel free to consult with us.