Fillings
Fillings are a great way to treat tooth decay and restore teeth to their natural function. At Gentle Touch Dental, we work to prevent bacteria from entering the tooth and causing further decay by using a variety of filling options to meet your needs. Our dental filling procedures use different types of materials to fill cavities, cracked teeth, and restoration mishaps to help repair the affected tooth from further damage and prevent other dental health problems. It’s important to have fillings if you have any sign of tooth decay or dental trauma because leaving your teeth in any condition can harm your oral health in the long run.
How Does A Dental Filling Procedure Work?
When addressing a tooth in bad shape, dental fillings are a standard form of restoration that works to treat the problems and prevent them from reoccurring. A dental filling is a restorative procedure that repairs decaying, cracked, chipped, and broken teeth by using filling material to mold and fill in the missing spaces of the tooth. Most often used for cavities, dental fillings can be made of a variety of materials, including:
- Composite Resin: Composite resin fillings are a strong amalgam filling that’s made with composite resin. Composite resin is a resin made from ceramic and plastic compounds and thus mimics the appearance of natural teeth.
- Glass Ionomer: Similar to composite resin, this material is made with silicate glass powder and polyacrylic acid to act as a filling material for the tooth. In some cases, glass ionomer is reported to be better than composite resins due to its fluoride-releasing capabilities.
- Ceramic Filling: Made completely out of porcelain, the advantage of ceramic fillings is that it’s more resistant to staining in comparison to composite resin material. These fillings also have a longer lifespan of 15 years with proper care and are an excellent choice for tooth repairs.
- Silver Amalgam: These metal fillings use liquid mercury and metal alloys, and according to the FDA, these dental amalgam fillings don’t have any negative side effects. While they lack aesthetics, they can last for over 15 years and can be an excellent choice for molar cavity fillings.
Any filling procedure may require drilling into the affected tooth to apply the filling. For those worried about any signs of pain, our doctors use local and general anesthesia to numb the area before performing the procedure. Within a few hours, your teeth will feel and look new with the help of our team at Gentle Touch Dental.
