Dental Fillings
What are Dental Fillings?
A dental filling is a type of restoration that replaces areas in a tooth that have become decayed. Fillings are placed after the decay has been removed, and they are useful in preventing sensitivity to the tooth while simultaneously restoring the look and feel of your smile. Fillings can be placed on all areas of the tooth and can last for many years with proper care and oral hygiene maintenance.
Why are Dental Fillings needed?
The most common reason for requiring a filling is because you have a cavity. Cavities often form as a result of poor diet, poor oral hygiene and simply being more susceptible to decay than is considered normal. Both pediatric and adult patients can have fillings placed as needed. Alternatively, you may be looking to replace older metal fillings with newer composite (tooth-colored) ones.
“I had such a great experience here,everyone made me feel at home. Dr.Patel was so good at explain all my treatment.”
Guadalupe Facundo
Who is a good candidate for Dental Fillings?
To determine if you’ll need one or more fillings, we’ll perform an examination and take x-rays. In some cases, cavities can only be seen on an x-ray, especially if they are located in between teeth. Cavities that are smaller in size can easily be filled with composite resin. If the decay has gotten too far into the tooth, we may suggest a root canal to prevent infection of the pulp (nerve) of the tooth.
What happens during the Dental Filling procedure?
We will begin by administering a local anesthetic to the area that will be receiving the filling. The decay is completely removed from the tooth. The small hole will be prepped for the new filling. We match the color of the tooth to the color of the composite resin being used. The composite filling is then placed into the hole and smoothed out. We then cure the composite filling so that it stays in place and does not fall out. Your new filling will blend in well with the rest of your smile and look completely natural.
If you think you might need a filling or want to learn more about the procedure, call our office and we can get you in for an appointment.
