Dental Fillings
What are Dental Fillings?
A dental filling is a restoration that replaces areas of decay in one or more of your teeth. Fillings are often made of composite resin, which is a tooth-colored material that is easily placed in the tooth to replace decay. If you have a cavity, we’ll recommend having a filling placed to prevent the decay from getting worse. We can even remove older metal (amalgam) fillings that you’d like to replace with composite resin.
Why are Dental Fillings needed?
The most common reason for needing a filling is because you have a cavity. If left untreated, the cavity will eventually get much worse and cause the decay to become worse. Before it is allowed to get this bad, we’ll remove any decay from the tooth and place the filling. Composite resin fillings are perfectly matched to your tooth so that it blends in seamlessly.
Who is a good candidate for Dental Fillings?
To determine if you may need a filling, we’ll perform an examination. The exam can help us to identify areas of decay and if a filling is necessary. X-rays can help us to further identify areas of decay if they are hard to spot with a manual examination. If you have a cavity, it is best to have it filled as soon as possible to prevent the decay from getting worse.
What happens during the procedure for Dental Fillings?
We begin by administering a safe local anesthetic to numb the area. You will then have the decay removed from the tooth. The small hole left behind is then prepped and filled with the composite resin material. The material is smoothed out and any excess is removed prior to curing it in place. Once cured, the filling will not shift or fall out of place. Your new filling can easily last for many years without showing any signs of wear or damage.
If you think you may need a filling and want to come in for treatment, call our office today and we can further assist you.
