Understanding Dental Fillings: The Types and Caring for Them
Eating lots of sugary foods may lead to tooth decay. By fixing dental fillings, the dentist can restore the normal shape and functioning of a decayed tooth. First, the decayed material is removed and the affected area cleaned. Your Burlington dentist then inserts a filling material into the void that has been cleaned out.
A filling can also help protect your tooth from further decay by sealing off bacteria entry points. Filling materials include porcelain, gold, amalgam, and composite resin. Temporary fillings are available to act as temporary solutions before permanent fillings are found.
What You Should Expect
Be at the dentist’s an hour prior to the procedure. This will give the dentist ample time to do X-rays when necessary, converse with you concerning the process and finish off dental work.
Before the procedure begins, your gums, teeth, and the surrounding skin will be numbed to lessen the discomfort you may feel in the dentist’s chair. Next, your dentist at Harbour View Dental will drill the decay out of your tooth and use a filling to replace it. This surprisingly takes a very short time.
Once this has been done, you will still feel anumbness in your mouth for a few hours. Even though there aren’t any proven risks associated with fillings, ensure you have the dentist’s contact number incase you experience complications or wish to ask any questions
While tooth filings are mostly associated with cavities, it should be noted that they play other roles. Your dentist may recommend tooth fillings for the repair of teeth that have been damaged by grinding or for the replacement of broken parts of a tooth.
Types of Dental Fillings
When it comes to dental fillings, there is a variety of options, each with its advantages and drawbacks. Tooth fillings are classified according to the type of material used. When choosing the tooth filling that is best for you, cost, aesthetic preferences, and insurance coverage are some of the factors you should consider. Let us look at the available dental fillings:
- Amalgam Fillings
For close to a century, dental professionals have used amalgam. Among all the other materials used for making fillings, this is the most researched. Their characteristic strength makes them ideal for filling the molars at the back of your mouth where the chewing process takes place. Because they are made from a mixture of metallic elements, people can notice them when you smile or laugh. All in all, they make up the list of the most affordable filling materials.
- Composite Fillings
These are sometimes called filled resins or composites. They are made from a combination of quartz filler or glass and can be modified to match your tooth color. Their durability is unmatched and they are ideal for restoring regions in your mouth where moderate chewing takes place.
- Metal Fillings
Silver amalgam and gold are the metals commonly used to make cavity fillings. As much as gold fillings are unbelievably expensive, some people prefer their appearance to that of silver fillings. That and the fact that they are durable. The appearance of these fillings may not appeal to some people but with them, you can stay for upto 15 years without ever doing a replacement.
- Ceramic Fillings
A ceramic filling is made of porcelain and bears the natural resemblance to teeth. Due to its extremely smooth glassy surface, it is less susceptible to tooth stains. Here is the deal-breaker; these fillings cost nearly as much as gold fillings.
- Glass Lonomer
The glass and acrylic blend results into an impressive cavity filling which shield the teeth by releasing fluoride. Unfortunately, it won’t last you long. It may require you to replace it every five years.
Caring for Cavity Fillings
Soon after receiving them, you may experience pain and increased sensitivity to heat and cold. This shouldn’t be a cause for panic as it will go away. Dentists recommend maintaining a good dental hygiene routine and incorporating products designed for sensitive teeth.
Signs The Filings Need Replacement
Usually, tooth fillings last for several years before needing any replacement. But over the years, grinding and clenching of your teeth may wear them out, making it necessary to replace them sooner.
Look out for wear signs on the tooth fillings like worn areas or cracks. Once you see the need for replacement, do not hesitate to visit our dentist near you. If there is further tooth decay around the filling, dentists advise repairing the tooth using a crown as opposed to a second filling.