How Do Dental Fillings Treat Cavities?

How Do Dental Fillings Treat Cavities?

Dec 01, 2020

Tooth fillings are among the most common dental procedures at Dental Arts 9thStreet dental office. Filings are a sure way to repair persistent cavities due to decay. The process is mostly painless and lasts around an hour.

Keep reading for information on what you can expect during a filling procedure, the materials commonly used, and which materials are best for you.

What to Expect

There are two principles involved in the application of dental fillings. First, your dentist removes the decayed part of the tooth and then fills the groove using filling material. The dentist in Petersburg, FL, will administer a sedative beforehand to numb the area, so the patient feels relaxed through the procedure.

The affected tooth is then isolated from the rest of the teeth for better access. Usually, a high-speed electric drill easily removes the decay. You might not need an aesthetic if the filing is being applied only on the tooth surface.

Tooth preparation varies according to the type of material used after readying the tooth. When the tooth is ready, a liner is used to minimize tooth sensitivity. Its because the enamel has been scrapped, and temperature changes can lead to significant tooth sensitivity. In really deep cavities, a base is used with the liner as insulation from external elements.

The dentist and patient will then choose from the different types of filling material to be used. Amalgam/Silver fillings are most common, followed by porcelain, resin, and gold fillings. They are laid on the top of the base to complete the process.

A day or two after rebuilding the tooth, it’s common for the patient to feel sensitivity around the filled tooth. The more resonant your cavity, the more likely you are to have sensitivity. This is primarily to cold and hot beverages and food. However, within two weeks, expect your filing to be comfortable.

If the pain persists beyond two weeks, Dr.Eros Chaves recommends contacting your dental care specialist as soon as possible. It could indicate a void beneath the fillings or an infected tooth pulp that needs root canal therapy.

How Long Does The Filling Procedure Take?

A tooth filling procedure mostly lasts less than an hour. A simple filling on the tooth surface can take only 20 minutes. Larger and multiple fillings take longer.

The procedure’s duration also depends on the type of material used and might need a second dental visit. For instance:

  • Composite resin being layered on a damaged tooth might take longer but is complete in a single visit.
  • When a composite filling is made using an impression, a second visit is necessary to bond the filling mold.
  • Gold and porcelain fillings can’t be done in a single visit. In the initial visit, the dentist takes an impression of your teeth and sends it to the lab to fabricate. The filling is then bonded in your next visit.

The process of replacing an older filling might take more time if the filling has to be drilled out of the tooth.

What Are The Types Of Fillings Available?

You will discuss with your dentist the filling material best for your cavity. The most common types include:

  • Silver Fillings – Also called amalgam fillings, they are a combination of mercury, copper, silver, and tin metals. They are more durable than most other materials and are affordable.
  • Composite tooth-color fillings –This is a mix of quartz particles and resin. The material is durable and costs a little more than amalgam color fillings.
  • Gold Fillings –This is a very durable option as it’s a mix of several metals, including gold and copper. Gold fillings are fabricated in the lab after the dentist takes an impression of your teeth.
  • Glass ionomer Fillings – Glass ionomer is tooth-colored fillings but less sturdy compared to composites. The material is acrylic and a glass that has fluoride and helps prevent cavities. They are mainly used for children’s teeth and are costlier than amalgams.
  • Porcelain fillings – They are expensive as gold fillings but look more natural and more potent. Your dentist takes an impression of the teeth and makes porcelain fillings specific for you.

Which Dental Fillings Are The Best?

In the past, there has been more success with composite fillings than other types. This is because of their superior strength, more fantastic color varieties, and outstanding longevity.

If you have no concern about tooth aesthetics, amalgam and gold fillings are a great option. Although gold fillings are costlier, people have preferred them to silver fillings as they have concerns with the mercury in amalgams. However, no evidence has shown that the mercury in amalgams is harmful.

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