Dental Fillings

Local anesthesia is required to eliminate caries problems that may be close to the nerve in the tooth. More than one injection is likely necessary, both administered directly into the gum covering the tooth.

 Once the area is numb, your doctor will begin the process of pulling the dead and decayed material from your tooth. A number of different materials are used to ensure complete removal of all carious parts.

After all cavities have been removed, your doctor will clean the tooth to prepare for your filling. This step is very important to prevent further decay and keep the sealant in place.

The filling material is applied step by step and in layers. Each layer is treated with the help of a special light that hardens itself before the next one is applied. After all layers are placed, your dentist will shape the filling into the desired shape. Excess filling is removed and the filling is corrected.

The dentist will produce a tooth-shaped mold using a special tooth “paste” form. The teeth of the patient to be filled are measured, so the dentist can ensure that the filling grinds properly against the opposing teeth. Laboratories take the impression and often produce hard copies from plaster. This hard mold is used to create a ceramic filling that is then returned to the dentist. Your doctor then glues the filler in place and makes slight corrections to remove the imperfections in the preparation process.

There are 2 main types of fillings used today. Which one will be offered to you will depend on your dentist’s preferences and your budget.

1. Composite: Composite fillings are highly preferred today, as they can be produced to exactly match the color of other teeth. Composite fillings, which can be made with various resins and fillers such as glass and quartz, are very hard, durable and largely invisible. More and more people prefer composite fillings and there are many reasons for choosing it. Color adjustments are available to perfectly match existing teeth. Also, some of the benefits are that they chemically bond to the teeth, giving them greater strength and longevity. At the same time, composite fillings are more versatile than other options. They can be used to fill smaller and differently shaped spaces.
2. Ceramic: Ceramic fillings can be made to look exactly like the tooth they are covering, they are also highly resistant to discoloration.
3. Temporary fillings: Temporary fillings are less expensive because they are only expected to last a week or two due to the material they are made from. They are applied in processes that are expected for permanent solutions. They are also applied to fill the gap formed in the tooth immediately after root canal treatment. If you receive emergency dental treatment, they may recommend a temporary filling until further treatment is done.

Fillings are a daily, routine procedure for doctors around the world. As long as everything goes as planned, you shouldn’t need to stay in the dentist’s chair for more than half an hour. Depending on the size of the problem, more than one pain reliever injection may be applied. You must remain calm and still throughout the procedure. Your doctor may recommend that you avoid extreme heat and cold food and drink for a day or two. You may feel some pain, but other than that, there is nothing to worry about.

• The effect of anesthesia wears off approximately 1-3 hours after the procedure. It is very important not to chew on the numbed side until the anesthetic wears off (to avoid biting your tongue or lip).
• Pediatric patients should be observed until anesthesia wears off. They can chew on the inside of their cheeks, lips and tongue, and thus cause serious damage.

When a very large filling is placed, your dentist may ask you to wait until the next day to start chewing with your new filling and chew with your teeth on the other side in the process.

Ceramic and composite fillings are the same color as other teeth and provide a natural appearance to the tooth.