At Aspen Dental Care, we are here to assist you if you have tooth damage or decay that requires treatment. It’s crucial to address damage or decay as soon as possible to prevent it from worsening and potentially leading to a root canal or extraction. The most common form of decay is a cavity, which can be effectively treated with fillings. Our composite fillings are an excellent choice for treating cavities because they blend seamlessly with your natural teeth, restoring their function and shape. Let Aspen Dental Care help you restore your damaged or decayed teeth with composite fillings!
Dental Cleanings
To treat a cavity, your dentist will first use local anesthesia to numb the area around the tooth. Next, a driller or laser will be used to remove the decayed area. Once the decay has been removed, the dentist will clean the cavity of bacteria and debris to prepare the space for filling. If the decay is near the root, your dentist may first put in a liner made of glass ionomer, calcium hydroxide, or another material to protect the nerve. Generally, after the filling is in, your dentist will finish and polish it.
Today, there are several dental filling materials available, including gold, porcelain, silver amalgam, tooth-colored plastic, and composite resin fillings. Glass ionomer, which contains glass particles, is also a viable material used in a way similar to composite resin fillings. Your dentist will recommend the best type of filling for you based on the location and extent of the decay, the cost of the filling material, and your insurance coverage.
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Types of Dental Fillings
01. Cast Gold Fillings
Gold used to be considered the best material for tooth restorations in the past, but it was eventually abandoned due to its yellow color and high price.
There are some advantages to using gold for dental fillings, including its durability, strength, and aesthetics, as some patients find it more visually appealing than silver amalgam fillings.
However, there are also several disadvantages to using gold for dental fillings, including its high cost, the need for additional office visits to place the filling, the potential for galvanic shock, and the fact that most patients prefer fillings that match the color of their teeth rather than metal-colored fillings.
02. Silver Fillings (Amalgams)
Amalgam is the most widely used and trusted material for tooth restoration, consisting of mercury mixed with Silver, Tin, Zinc, and Copper, which provides high strength and durability due to its metallic properties. Despite its good properties, the use of amalgam has been restricted due to its silver color and mercury composition. However, in difficult cases, amalgam remains the best material for dental protection in terms of physical properties.
Advantages of amalgam fillings include their durability, as they can last at least 10 to 15 years and usually outlast composite fillings, their strength in withstanding chewing forces, and their potential lower cost compared to composite fillings.
Disadvantages of amalgam fillings include poor aesthetics, the destruction of more healthy tooth structure to make space for the filling, potential discoloration of the surrounding tooth structure, a higher risk of cracks and fractures due to the material’s expansion and contraction, and the possibility of allergic reactions for a small percentage of people who are allergic to the mercury in amalgam restorations.
03. Tooth – colored composites
At our office, we use composite resin fillings or white fillings as the most common type of fillings. White fillings not only restore a tooth’s function and integrity, but also maintain the beauty of your white smile even after treatment.
Tooth-colored fillings provide superior aesthetics, making your teeth appear whiter and brighter than before, and are even stronger than metal restorations. Not only can white fillings be used for new dental repairs, but they can also replace older restorations, giving your smile a new lease on life.
The advantages of using white fillings include their ability to match the color of existing teeth, their ability to bond to tooth structure, their versatility in repairing chipped, broken, or worn teeth, and their tooth-sparing preparation that requires less tooth structure removal compared to amalgam fillings.
However, there are some disadvantages to using white fillings. They wear out sooner than amalgam fillings, take up to 20 minutes longer to place, can chip off the tooth depending on their location, and can cost up to twice the cost of amalgam fillings.
Overall, the benefits of using white fillings make them a great option for restoring the function and beauty of your teeth.
04. Glass ionomer
Glass ionomer is composed of acrylic and a distinct glass material, commonly utilized for fillings in young children and below the gum line, although drilling is still necessary. It releases fluoride, which can prevent tooth decay.
Nevertheless, this material is less robust than composite resin, and it is more vulnerable to wear and prone to breaking. Glass ionomer is typically similarly priced to composite resin.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens when a dentist fills a tooth?
There are two main steps involved in creating a dental filling. Firstly, the dentist will remove all dead and decaying material from the broken tooth, which is comprised of enamel that cannot be saved. This step is necessary to ensure the secure insertion of the replacement filling. The dentist will administer an anesthetic to ensure that the patient does not feel any discomfort during the procedure.
It is important to note that getting a filling should not cause any pain, though the sensation of the drill may feel unusual. The drill is used to remove the decaying portions of the tooth, following which the dentist will clean out the cavity thoroughly to remove all bacteria and debris.
In cases where the decay has spread extensively and the root is close to the surface, the dentist may opt to insert a dental liner made of either glass ionomer or composite resin. This liner protects the nerve and ensures it does not become exposed. The filling is then inserted on top, and the entire tooth is cleaned and polished. For tooth-colored fillings, a special tool is used to harden the different layers.
How do I take care of my dental fillings?
Taking care of fillings is easy, and it’s important to keep up with your regular dental care routine to ensure their longevity. This means brushing and flossing twice a day, attending regular dental check-ups, and promptly informing your dentist about any changes.
Over time, fillings can degrade and require replacement. If you experience sensitivity, sharp pains, or notice jagged edges or cracks in the filling, it’s likely that it needs to be repaired or replaced.
To determine the best solution, your dentist will x-ray your mouth and confirm the most suitable course of action. Typically, degraded material will need to be removed and replaced with a new filling of the same type. It may also be possible to upgrade to a better filling material, but this option should be discussed with your Aspen Dental Care dentist in SW Calgary.
What will happen after my filling is finished?
After getting a filling, it’s common to experience increased sensitivity for the next two to three weeks. Although, the discomfort will gradually decrease over time. If the tooth sensitivity is causing pain while chewing or talking, taking over-the-counter painkillers can help manage the sensation. However, most patients don’t require painkillers as the discomfort is mild and temporary. You can avoid triggers like extremely hot or cold substances and use desensitizing toothpaste to control the discomfort. Make sure to keep an eye on any pain symptoms and report them to your dentist promptly. Custom fillings require skill and sometimes require follow-up repairs or alterations. If pain and sensitivity persist beyond what is expected, your dentist may need to make changes to the filling. While this can be frustrating, it’s necessary for creating a long-lasting filling that can serve you well for a decade or more.
