A dental filling is a type of restoration used to fill and repair a cavity. The decay is drilled out and replaced with filling material, restoring the tooth’s original shape and size.
At our office, we use tooth-colored composite filling material. The composite resin can be matched to your natural tooth color, making it a seamless restoration.
What Materials Are Dental Fillings Made Of?
Fillings can be made of a range of materials, including metals like gold, silver, porcelain, composite resin, or ceramic. Gold and silver are quite durable fillings, but they can show through on the teeth, making them less desirable for visible teeth. Composite resins and ceramics are tooth-colored, making them ideal for visible teeth. Porcelain and ceramic fillings can also be made to match the shape and color of your surrounding teeth.
How Is a Dental Filling Placed?
A dental filling is a restorative treatment that can be completed in one or two appointments at your dentist’s office. During your visit, our dentist in Laurel, MD, will use a local anesthetic to numb the treatment area. Then, they will remove all the tooth decay and bacteria from the tooth. The tooth will be prepared and cleaned, and the dental filling material will be placed in the tooth and smoothed. The material will be shaped and polished to match the surrounding teeth, and the result will be a beautiful, healthy smile.
Are Dental Fillings Right For You?
If you have tooth decay or have a missing tooth, then dental fillings may be right for you. They can help treat tooth decay and stop further decay from occurring. They can also help restore a tooth to its old shape and strength if the tooth has been damaged by decay.
What Are the Advantages of Fillings?
The two main advantages of a dental filling are:
Filling a Cavity
If a cavity is left untreated, bacteria can destroy the enamel and dentin, causing increased sensitivity and pain, leading to infection.
Restoring a Tooth
Dental fillings can restore a tooth’s function, shape, and appearance. They can also restore comfort and help protect the surface of the tooth from further damage.
What is a Tooth Cavity?
A tooth cavity is a hole that forms on the surface of the tooth, extending into the inside, and it will continue to grow if left untreated.
How Does Poor Oral Hygiene Contribute to Cavity Development?
While not brushing your teeth is a common cause of cavities, there are other factors at play. Inadequate daily brushing and failure to remove plaque can contribute to cavities. However, constant exposure to highly acidic foods and drinks can also damage teeth, leading to cavities, even if you maintain good oral hygiene practices. Cavities are easily treatable when they are small. However, larger cavities can become problematic.
Does Pain Mean A Cavity is too Progressed to be Treated?
Pain does not necessarily indicate that it's too late to treat a cavity. Pain can occur with both small and large cavities, and sometimes, there may be no pain at all. Treatment involves numbing the affected area and cleaning it, whether the cavity is minor or more extensive.
How Are Cavities Treated?
In most cases, we numb the patient with local anesthetic to address cavities, and then we proceed to clean out the area that has breached the tooth. Sometimes the tissue inside may be soft, while other times, it may simply involve a minor break in the tooth that can be easily filled and repaired, particularly when it's very small.
Can Cavities Reoccur After Being Filled?
While cavities generally don't return if you maintain good oral hygiene and a healthy diet, occasional decay around fillings can happen, especially if you neglect these aspects.
How Can I Prevent Oral Cavities?
Maintaining good oral hygiene, including brushing, flossing after meals, and following a healthy diet, is crucial for cavity prevention. Highly processed, sugary, and acidic foods can weaken tooth enamel, making it easier for cavities to develop.
Schedule An Appointment
If you need cavity treatment, simply call our office at Montpelier Family Dentistry. When you're ready to schedule an appointment, please contact our office at 301-604-0025.