Dental Fillings
Fill Cavities and Stop Tooth Decay
Does your tooth hurt or sensitive when you eat a lolly, donut or drink something cold? You
might have a cavity. While a cavity may not seem like a big deal, they do not go away on
their own. In fact, they get worse as the decay process is irreversible unless treated, and
eventually can cost you your tooth.
Filling a cavity or getting it restored as soon as possible is the key to stopping decay,
saving your tooth, and ending pain. The dentists in Amelia Street Dental Clinic makes
fillings fast, easy, and painless so you can get in and out of the dental chair and back to
your life.
What are Dental Fillings?
A dental filling is a restorative treatment for a tooth cavity or imperfection
resulting from decay (caries), ...
abrasion lesions or tooth fracture due to trauma. They can be done in two ways.
Direct method or indirect method. The direct method of
filling is done by the dentist in the chair and usually is completed in one
appointment. The indirect method requires 2 appointments in which the dentist
removes the decay and prepares the cavity and takes a mould or scans the
prepared. The dental laboratory then fabricates the indirect restoration, which
is then cemented by the dentist at the 2nd appointment. Composites, amalgams,
glass ionomers are direct filling materials while ceramics, gold are indirect
filling materials.
When you have a cavity or a tooth chip, there is a hole in your tooth or part of
the tooth has broken. Your dental expert removes the decayed portion of the
tooth carefully keeping back sound and healthy tooth structure. Complete caries
removal is ensured by using a caries dye. This gap is then treated with special
agents before it is filled with a biocompatible material like composite,
amalgam, or glass ionomer. All these materials have a good track record and are
durable.
Nowadays, amalgam fillings are not done routinely as they are dark in colour and
there have been some concerns about mercury toxicity. These are not
substantiated yet and the Australian Dental Association still supports its use.
They are strong and long lasting.
Composite resins (commonly called as white fillings) are the preferred choice of
material for all ages. These materials are tooth coloured and are available in a
number of shades. They can be used for front and back teeth are a good option
for most clinical scenarios except when most of the tooth is decayed and the
prepared cavity is quite large with lees of natural tooth structure remaining.
With the advancement in resin materials these fillings are now done routinely in
most dental practices for their aesthetic qualities. Cosmetic dentistry
progressed as a science mainly due to the continuous research refinement in the
composite resin technology.
Glass Ionomer Filling materials: This is an alternative which has fluoride as
one of its agents. The anticariogenic property of fluoride makes it a preferred
material in children, or people with high caries or decay index, or are used as
temporary filling materials. They are also tooth coloured but their aesthetics
are inferior as compared to composites.
Indirect restorations. When more than 60% of the original structure is damaged
due to caries or fracture then indirect restorations like inlays, onlays or
crowns are suggested. They offer better strength than the traditional direct
fillings.
Are You a Candidate for Dental Fillings?
A filling may be right for you if: ...
• You have a cavity or a hole in the tooth.
• Decay has not progressed in to the pulp or nerve chamber and a root canal, or
another treatment is required.
• Part of the tooth is chipped or fractured.
How do you know if you have a cavity? Sometimes you can see or feel it in your
mouth. Other times, you might simply have symptoms such as a toothache or cold
or sugar sensitivity.
In some cases, you might not even know you have a cavity until we find it on
your X-rays.
Benefits of Dental Fillings
• Stop tooth decay from progressing....
• Save your tooth and keep it healthy.
• Prevent the need for other more invasive treatments.
• Strengthen your tooth.
• End toothaches and sensitivity.
• We offer filling materials that blend right in with your enamel. You won’t
even be able to see the filling.
Getting a Cavity Filled Has Never Been Easier
You may be concerned about getting a filling. But our compassionate dental experts
can offer you a fast, easy, painless experience. ...
1. We apply a local anesthetic, then wait for your tooth to be numb. Only after
the anaesthetic has been able to take full effect will we proceed.
2. We drill into your tooth to remove the decay. You should not feel pain during
this process.
3. We ensure complete caries removal by using a caries detector.
4. We then treat the cavity surface with different agents and then fill the
cavity with the restorative material of choice.
5. You can expect mild sensitivity for a few days which settles over a period of
time.
How to Maintain Fillings
Following your appointment, you should wait for the anaesthetic to wear off before
you chew anything. ...
You do not have to do anything to take care of your filling aside from brush,
floss, and use mouthwash as usual.
In fact, if your filling matches your enamel, it can be pretty easy to forget
you have one
Protect Your Teeth from Decay With Dental Fillings
A cavity may feel like a small problem, especially if yours isn’t yet causing you
pain.
But a cavity you do not treat will progress, with the decay eventually claiming your
tooth.
Do not wait until you need an invasive or expensive treatment such as a root canal
or a bridge to replace a lost tooth.
Schedule a filling with Amelia Street Dental Clinic so we can stop tooth decay and
you can enjoy a healthy, strong tooth for the rest of your life.