Dental Fillings
What are Dental Fillings?
A dental filling is necessary if you have a tooth that has a cavity. The cavity is an area of decay that can and will get worse without treatment. Before the cavity can get larger, the decay is removed and replaced with a tooth-colored filling. These fillings are durable and blend in well with the rest of your smile.
Why are Dental Fillings needed?
Most often, tooth-colored fillings are needed if you have a cavity. Cavities can develop for a wide range of reasons. Some of these reasons are preventable and others are more based on how vulnerable you are to dental decay. However, regardless of the cause of the cavity, it is best to have it treated sooner rather than later.
Who is a candidate for Dental Fillings?
With the help of an examination, we are able to identify areas of decay in any one of your teeth. If a cavity is found, we can provide you with quick and prompt treatment that helps to restore your smile. If you fail to treat a cavity, the decay can get worse and eventually lead to the need for a root canal. In extreme cases, decay gets so bad that it causes infections, abscesses and even the need for complete removal of the tooth.
What happens during the Dental Filling procedure?
The first step is to numb the area using a local anesthetic. This anesthetic is useful because it makes the procedure more comfortable for you. We then remove any of the decay from the tooth. The hole left behind is prepped for the filling material. We carefully match the color of the composite with the color of the tooth. This helps the filling to blend in well and not look obvious. The material is placed in the tooth, smoothed out and cured into place with a bright light. Most tooth-colored dental fillings can last for years without needing replacement.
If you think you might need a dental filling, call us today at 858-350-9977, and we can help to get you in at your earliest convenience.