Tooth decay and cavities are two of the most common oral problems. They are caused due to the lack of proper brushing and flossing habits, improper diet, and certain oral infections. Cavities can be a painful and irritating experience, and it is best to get them treated as early as possible. Hence, we offer dental fillings to restore teeth affected by cavities.
What Are Dental Fillings?
Dental fillings are used to restore teeth affected by cavities. They are generally made from ceramic or composite resin. The restoration material is chosen based on the type of tooth that requires filling. For instance, metal fillings are used to restore teeth with grooves or weakened enamel, while ceramic fillings are used to restore the front teeth.
What Are the Different Types of Fillings?
The following are the most popular types of fillings:
- Gold Fillings:They offer excellent wear resistance and strength. Gold fillings can also be used to restore a broken tooth or treat a tooth with a large cavity. They are biocompatible and do not cause any adverse reactions to the tissues in the mouth.
- Ceramic Fillings: They are made from dental-grade ceramic material and offer excellent sealing ability. This enables them to prevent reinfection of the cavity and protects the tooth from further damage. The material used for ceramic fillings is biocompatible and offers excellent durability.
- Composite Resin Fillings:These are highly customizable filling materials made from tooth-colored acrylic resin. They can be customized according to the shape, contour, and color of the affected tooth. Composite resin fillings offer excellent sealing ability, as they do not allow microbes to enter the cavity and reinfect it.
- White Fillings: Also known as Arestin, these are placed in cavities treated using root canal therapy. They help seal off the infected pulp, prevent reinfection, and keep it sterile for a long time. Since these fillings do not require a lot of preparation, they can be placed on the same day as your consultation with our dentist.
What Is the Procedure Involved in Getting Dental Fillings?
Dental fillings are placed in cavities to restore teeth affected by decay or damage caused due to external trauma. The dentist prepares your teeth by cleaning them thoroughly to remove all traces of food debris and microbes present in them. Local anesthesia may be administered to numb the teeth and gums before starting the procedure.
The decayed or damaged part of a tooth is removed using ultrasonic scaling, which helps remove tartar deposits and decayed tooth tissues on its surface. A medication called a disinfectant is placed in it to prevent reinfection of the cavity. Next, we will prepare your tooth for filling by removing any remaining decay from its surface through ultrasonic scaling. A jet of water containing a jet of air will be used for this purpose. It will also help clear out any debris present in the cavity area.
Next, we will select a suitable filling material that matches your natural tooth color and shape before applying it to your tooth’s surface with high-intensity light energy. It will harden as we gradually remove it from your tooth after 30-60 seconds. Finally, its contour will be shaped.
Want to know more about our procedures? Call us at (225) 673-0445 or schedule an appointment online to consult our dentist at Prestige Dentistry, 38585 Hwy. 42, Prairieville, LA 70769.