DENTAL FILLINGS
​WHAT IS A DENTAL FILLING?
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Most commonly, a dental filling is used to restore a cavity in a tooth. But, a dental filling can also be used to repair damages to a tooth caused by teeth grinding (bruxism) or replace part(s) of a broken tooth.
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There are different types of dental fillings, such as amalgam fillings, composite fillings, metal fillings, ceramic fillings, and glass ionomer fillings. However, in consideration of the treatment effectiveness as well as the treatment financial affordability to the patients, the two most common types that are used at our dental office are amalgam fillings and composite fillings.
TYPES OF FILLINGS​
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​Composite Fillings
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Composite fillings feature a combination of glass or quartz filler and can be made to match the color of a patient's tooth. However, these fillings are fairly durable, so they are only ideal for small to mid-size restorations in the mouth areas that perform moderate chewing.
​Amalgam Fillings
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Amalgam fillings are strong and therefore are ideal for fillings in the molars. However, since these fillings are made of metallic elements, they are noticeable when a patient smiles or laughs. Amalgam fillings are among the least expensive of all cavity-filling materials.
HOW SEALANTS ARE PLACED?
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The procedure total time may takes up to 1 hour.
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Prior to the treatment, some X-rays maybe needed.
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The treated tooth will be numbed to avoid and/or lessen any discomfort during the procedure.
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The decay will be drilled out of the tooth and be replaced with a filling.
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After the procedure, the numbing will naturally go away within a few hours.
