Tooth colored fillings
Restorations and Fillings Repair Damaged Teeth
Composite restorations, commonly known as “fillings,” repair and fortify damaged teeth that succumbed to decay, trauma or wear.
Tooth-Colored Fillings Look Like Natural Teeth
Although every patient would like a clean bill of health for each dental visit, widespread consumption of sweets and other sugary drinks, as well as other causes of decaying teeth, could not help but make cavities, also called dental caries, inevitable for most of us.
Professional teeth restorations, also known as getting a filling, are a rather simple and painless dental procedure, helping patients regain tooth integrity and good oral health.
The Perfect Cavity Solution
What is a Filling?
Unlike dental sealants, which are used to fill deep nooks and crannies in healthy teeth to prevent food from becoming trapped and causing the erosion of tooth enamel, fillings are used to fill cavities — essentially holes in your teeth — that result from tooth decay. The filling restores the tooth’s structure and full function. Depending on the material used, a filling can look just like the rest of your natural tooth.
What Are Fillings Made of?
Types of filling include:
- Composite fillings. Composite fillings are often preferred by patients today, especially for cavities near the front of the mouth, as the material looks just like natural teeth. The composite is made from powdered glass, quartz, silica, or other ceramic particles, added to a resin base.
- Gold fillings. In addition, gold is used for fillings but less frequently because of its high price and esthetic concerns.
- Glass ionomer fillings. Glass ionomer is a product made from acrylic and a type of special glass material. Glass ionomer is most often used for fillings below the gum line and for fillings in young children. Glass ionomers release fluoride that may help prevent tooth decay from recurring.
- Ceramic fillings. Ceramic fillings offer excellent durability and excellent aesthetics. Ceramic fillings are usually made of porcelain in dental lab, via dental impressions made by the dentist, and they are very resistant to stains and abrasion. Such a filling is appropriate for large cavities in the teeth.
Your dentist will recommend which kind of filling you should get if you need one.
When Do I Need a Filling?
Most cavities are found at an early stage with regular x-rays, which are performed every six months during a dental visit. But if you notice one or more of the following symptoms, then you probably have a cavity:
- Visible holes or pits in your teeth
- New sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet foods
- Random pain in your teeth
- Pain in the teeth while biting or chewing
Cavities do not always show visible symptoms. This is why a visit to the dentist every six months for teeth cleaning is essential. The dentist can identify early signs of cavities before they damage the tooth further.
What is the Procedure for Getting a Filling?
The area around the tooth will be numbed before receiving a composite filling. Then, the decayed portion of the tooth is removed, leaving the prepared area just small enough for the composite filling.
Next, the area is cleaned for any debris, then a special bonding agent is applied to it. Finally, the bonding agent is secured with a special curing light.
Your dentist then applies the composite material to the prepared area in layers, shaping the material to match the contours of your tooth’s surface. The curing light sets each layer of the composite as it is applied, hardening it to withstand the forces of opposing teeth.
Finally, your dentist will polish the composite filling to smooth it out and give it a shine like the rest of your tooth.
After that, your tooth is decay-free and restored to its strength and appearance.
Taking Care of Your Filling
Your filling can last for many years if you do proper brushing and flossing. Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste; make sure to floss at least once a day or after every meal. Visit your dentist every six months for dental cleaning.