Save your Beautiful Smile by Getting a Dental Filling

Dental fillings may be required for the chipped teeth, worn teeth, cracked or broken teeth, decayed teeth, or for closing the gap between the teeth. Tooth filling helps to restore a badly damaged tooth by decay. It ensures the normal functioning and shape of the tooth.

To place a filling, the dentist will first remove the decayed tooth material, clean the area, and then fill it with a filling material. Filling the cavities ensures protection from bacteria entering into teeth.

What to Do In Case of a Broken Tooth Filling?

You can face various complications of not getting the dental filling at the right time. If it is not done on time, the enamel can slowly start decaying that can expose the hard part known as dentin leading to infection. The increased infection will make your teeth sensitive and a root canal treatment will be required to treat the infection.

Types of Dental Fillings

The filling materials are made of gold, porcelain, composite resin, and amalgam. The right type of filling will depend upon on you the extent of repair required, allergies to certain materials, the cost involved and the place where the filling is required. Different types of filling material in dentistry are:

1. Gold Fillings

The gold materials are made to order in the laboratory and then cemented into the teeth. They can last for more than 20 years and are often considered the best filling material. They require more than one visit and are the most expensive option among others.

2. Amalgam or Silver Fillings

They are relatively less expensive but are noticeable due to their dark color. Due to this, they cannot be used in visible areas such as front teeth.

3. Porcelain Fillings

Porcelain fillings are known as inlays or only and are produced in the lab. They are matched to the natural color of the tooth and then bonded to the teeth. They can be used to cover most of the teeth and similar to gold in cost.

When the tooth decay damages a large part of the tooth, then the filing is not recommended. It will then need a crown or a cap. In case the decay touches the nerve, it will need a root canal treatment in which the damaged nerve will be removed.

Procedure for Filling a Cavity

For a cavity filling, the savvy dentist in Markham will use local anesthesia to numb the area of the tooth that needs to be filled. A drill or laser will be used to remove the decayed part.

The dentist will then determine if all the decay has been removed and will prepare the area for filling after cleaning the debris and bacteria. If a cavity is deep the composite resin or some other material will be used and will finish and polish it.

The tooth color fillings are applied in layers and a light will be used to harden each layer. The filling will then be shaped to the desired result. The excess material is trimmed off and the final restoration is polished.

For a broken filling, it is important to make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. Otherwise, the bacteria can enter into the gap and will further damage the tooth. The tooth left untreated for long will increase the risk of losing your tooth.

Key Things to Remember After Filling

You can follow a few things to reduce any pain and any further complications:

• Use hot and saltwater to cleanse the area and reduce the painful symptoms.
• An ice pack can be used to reduce pain and swelling.
• To ease pain over the counter medications can be used.
• For covering the tooth temporarily dental cement can be bought from a drug store.

Some of the things to consider post-treatment of dental filling are:

• Make sure that the anesthesia is worn off before you start chewing food.
• Avoid having anything too hot or cold till the time anesthesia is worn off.
• Hard or sticky foods should be avoided for some days.
• Use a mouth guard to protect your teeth from teeth grinding.
• Clean your teeth regularly by proper brushing, flossing, and mouth wash rinses.

Visit your dentist if you feel sensitivity for a long time or if the filling comes out.