FILLINGS
What are Fillings?
Fillings are restorations that are used to replace areas of a tooth that have become decayed. Tooth decay, often referred to as a cavity, can develop for a variety of reasons. If left untreated, the decay will get larger and eventually require the need for a complete root canal. Before it gets this bad, we can remove the decay and place a composite resin (tooth-colored) filling.
Why are Fillings needed?
Fillings are normally needed if you have one or more cavities. A cavity may form because of poor oral hygiene habits, poor eating habits or just because you’re more prone to tooth decay than is deemed normal. Cavities can affect both children and adults, and fillings can be placed to prevent the decay from getting worse. We are a mercury-free office and only use composite resin fillings to replace areas of decay.
Who is a good candidate for Fillings?
We examine your teeth to determine if you have a cavity. In some cases, we’ll use x-rays to find difficult-to-spot areas of decay. If it’s found that you have a cavity, it’s important to have it filled as soon as possible. This prevents the cavity from getting larger, requiring a bigger filling and eventually causing the need for a root canal.
What is involved in the Filling procedure?
We administer local anesthetic to numb the area receiving the filling. If you have multiple cavities in the same area, we can place several fillings at the same time. The decay is removed completely from the tooth and the small hole is prepared for the composite material. Before placing the filling, we match the color of the composite to your tooth. This helps it to blend in more seamlessly, preventing it from standing out from the rest of the tooth. We then place the filling and smooth it out. It’s cured with a bright light that hardens the composite resin and prevents it from shifting out of place.
If you think you might need a filling, call us today and we can schedule you with an appointment to come in.