What are dental fillings?
Dental fillings protect a decaying tooth from future damage. Tooth decay causes cavities. Without fillings, cavities continue to get larger, leading to gum disease, toothaches, and even tooth loss. When decay is caught early, dental fillings protect the tooth while restoring its function, shape, and appearance.
What materials are dental fillings made from?
Dental fillings are available in a variety of materials, including amalgam, porcelain, composite resin, or gold. Your dentist selects an appropriate filling type based on the extent of tooth damage, but composite resin is the most common material for dental fillings.
Composite resin dental fillings are ideal for visible areas of your smile, such as your front teeth, as the filling can be matched to your natural teeth color.
How are cavities filled?
If your dentist at Presidential Dental Group discovers you have cavities in need of dental fillings, the treatment area is numbed to ensure your comfort during the procedure. Once numb, your dentist removes the decayed areas from your tooth.
The dental filling material is pressed into the cavity to seal the hole and prevent future decay. A special light hardens the filling and then the filling material is trimmed to match the original shape of your tooth. Once complete, your dental filling restores the function and strength of your tooth.
If your cavity is too large for a dental filling, Presidential Dental Group dentists suggest other dental restorations such as crowns or dental implants.
How do I care for dental fillings?
Dental fillings can chip, crack, or fall out if you chew hard objects, hard foods, or chewy candy. Caring for dental fillings involves the same good oral hygiene practices required to care for your teeth, including brushing and flossing twice daily.
Maintaining a good oral hygiene routine is also the best way to prevent the need for additional dental fillings in the future. Schedule dental cleanings and exams at Presidential Dental Group every six months for optimal oral health.
If you think you have cavities in need of dental fillings, or it’s been more than six months since your last dental cleaning and exam, call Presidential Dental Group or book an appointment online.
