Dental Fillings

Bacteria live in your mouth and without proper dental hygiene, they will multiply and destroy your tooth structure until you eventually develop a hole in your tooth. This hole is referred to as tooth decay. If not treated right away, the tooth will be severely infected and may need to be extracted. The good news is, you can still repair decayed teeth by means of dental fillings.

There are several kinds of materials used for dental fillings, but the most commonly used ones are amalgam and composite resin. Amalgam fillings have been used in dentistry for almost 200 years. It’s basically made up of different metals that form a soft material molded to build back the structure of your decayed tooth. After the cavity has been filled with amalgam, it hardens in just a few minutes.

Composite filling, on the other hand, is a newer filling material but it is quickly gaining popularity. In order for this material to harden when placed in the tooth cavity, your dentist will use a bright blue light to produce a series of chemical reactions resulting in a hardened and very strong filling.

How It’s Done

If you have a tooth cavity, getting a filling is a must. Otherwise, the infection will spread into the tooth root and even to neighboring teeth.

During your visit, the dentist will apply a numbing gel and/or local anesthetic on the affected area to ensure you’re as comfortable as possible.

Then, the dentist will remove the portion of your tooth that is infected and clean the tooth thoroughly. We use special tools like a high-speed handpiece to clean and remove the decayed part of the teeth.

Next, the dentist will place the dental filling to cover the hole. Once it has hardened, it will be polished and sealed.

What to Expect

You might experience some sensitivity in your tooth for a couple of days after your treatment. This is normal and should be expected. However, if it causes sensitivity or pain when you bite down, make sure to report it to your dentist as it could mean that your filling is too high. In such cases, your dentist will smooth down the filling to get rid of the sensitivity.

This treatment is very simple, so you really have nothing to worry about. Our gentle and caring hands will make the procedure as comfortable and painless as possible for you.

Dental fillings look and feel just like your natural teeth. With this treatment, you can help keep your teeth healthy and maintain a beautiful smile.