Dental Filling Clinic

Dental fillings are used as a treatment for tooth cavities. When your tooth has caries, a dentist removes all the decayed tissue and fills up the hole with an amalgam or composite filling that is usually made of a mercury or glass blend. They are also used to repair chipped or cracked teeth.

Why Are Dental Fillings Important?

 Dental fillings are important for your oral health and your smile’s beauty. Here’s how they make your oral world more comfortable:

• Reduces sensitivity
• Gives relief from toothache due to cavity
• Stops spreading of tooth decay and salvages the tooth
• Prevents foreign particles enter deep in your tooth causing pain and damage
• Reduces the risk of infection
• Strengthens cracked tooth
• Improves the tooth’s bite function
• Can be used to contour short, small, chipped teeth

What Are The Different Types Of Dental Fillings?

Dental fillings are of two types – amalgam fillings and composite filling. Both these fillings are completely safe for your health. They are made keeping in mind that trace amounts of the filling will end up in your system. So, the compositions are tried and tested to ensure that they are non-toxic in nature.

Amalgam Fillings: Amalgam fillings are a blend of mercury with silver copper, zinc and tin. The alloy is silver in color. Naturally, these dental fillings are not the best aesthetic choice. However, they are very sturdy and are ideal for filling any cavity in your molars. They can last you for 15 years if you are thorough with your oral care.

However, some people are allergic to mercury. For those people, silver fillings can pose health challenges like redness, irritation, swelling, etc. So, make sure to test it on your skin before committing to this filling. 

Composite Fillings: Composite fillings resemble the natural color of your teeth. They are more aesthetic and are used mostly for your front teeth. However, they can be used for any tooth if you desire so. They are primarily a mixture of glass-like powder and acrylic. With proper care, they can last you for 7-10 years.

How Is A Dental Filling Done?

• On the day of the procedure, you will be given some anesthesia so that you don’t feel any pain during the procedure.
• Then, using a drill, the dentist will remove the decayed part of the tooth and cleanse and disinfect the area thoroughly.
• Then the dental filling will be poured in the hole to fill it up.
• A blue UV light is used to help harden the filling faster.
• When the filling is hard enough, the dentist will polish out the excess so that it does not scrape your tongue. Plus, he will also adjust it so that the filling feels natural in your bite.

How To Take Care Of Your Teeth After Dental Filling

The effect of anesthesia from the procedure will fade away in an hour or two. You are unlikely to feel any pain after that. You can expect a mild headache or numbness which is a result of the drilling. This should go away after a good night’s sleep. Post that, take care of your teeth just as normally – brush twice a day and floss everyday to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Visit a dentist every 6 months to make sure that there’s no new issue with your teeth. However, if you feel any pain or loose feeling near the fillings, consult a dentist immediately.