Tooth Filling
Surprise, AZ
Tooth decay is one of the leading reasons to get a dental filling.
Significant tooth decay can lead to a damaged tooth structure, which can spread to other teeth, which is why coming into our offices in the Surprise, AZ area to get dental fillings is highly recommended.
Moreover, a tooth filling (or dental filling) can also be advised whenever you have a cracked tooth or broken tooth so that you can restore the appearance of your teeth.
Our dentists and professional dental team at Surprise Smiles can provide you the teeth fillings you need to preserve your smile.
What Are Tooth Fillings Made Of?
Various materials may be used as dental fillings to fill cavities and seal them, preventing additional decay-related harm to the tooth. For instance, different materials, such as porcelain or gold inlays, might also be utilized for the filling.
The best option will rely on the particulars, such as the location of the cavity, the patient's medical history, cosmetic requirements, financial capacity, and preferences.
Composite Fillings
Composite, or tooth colored fillings, are made out of a mixture of plastic, glass, and resin that is carefully mixed to match the exact color of your tooth. Composite fillings are almost impossible to spot in your mouth and allow us to leave more of the healthy tooth in place than any other filling option.
Composite starts as a mixture that we craft specially to match your teeth and is applied in a clay-like state to your tooth. This is the same material that we use to do dental bonding in order to fix cracks and chips in your teeth. Once we have the mixture in place and molded properly we set it permanently in place using a UV light.
Amalgam
These are the stereotypical fillings that many people think of when fillings are mentioned. Silver or metallic in color, amalgam fillings offer a durable and long lasting solution for fillings in the molars that need to be able to withstand lots of bite pressure. Amalgam fillings require a large amount of the tooth to be drilled in order to be successful.
Gold Inlays and Onlays
Gold is a material that has been used in dental restoration procedures for a long time. Gold not only feels just like your natural tooth, it most closely matches natural teeth in density and strength. This makes gold a fabulous option to use to restore teeth. Many people enjoy the beautiful aesthetic that gold offers, accenting the smile nicely.
Gold can be used to place in fillings (inlays) within teeth or can be used to cap a tooth with a crown (onlay). The process of having a gold restoration place will usually require an extra trip to our office as the restoration will need to be crafted over a period of days or weeks in our dental lab.
Dental Filling Procedure
In order to increase the patient's comfort throughout the surgery, a local anesthetic is initially administered to the region around the damaged tooth to numb it.
The broken or damaged tooth should next have the surrounding regions cleaned and ready for repair.
The tooth's damaged areas may be removed using a laser or a dental handpiece. The area is cleaned with an acid gel to get rid of any germs.
The cavity is subsequently filled by applying the filling material to the area.
To prevent any interference by permitting moisture in the bonding process of the composite restoration, the damaged tooth must be isolated before the placement of a composite filling. Various adhesives are used prior to the composite material for this to happen.
A specialized bonding laser can then be used to solidify the composite material.
Dental Filling Follow-up
After the dental filling operation is finished, the dentist must spend time with the patient talking about ways to stop decay from developing beneath or close to the filling. Other teeth will benefit from these techniques in reducing tooth decay.
Patients should be instructed to maintain proper oral hygiene routines, including twice-day use of fluoride toothpaste, flossing, and daily use of an interdental cleaner.
Patients who have a high risk of future tooth decay may potentially benefit from fluoride mouthwashes.
Some individuals with a high risk of caries could also gain from having a sealant applied to the back of their mouth over the molars to stop plaque buildup and tooth destruction.
How to Avoid Cavities
Brushing twice a day and flossing once a day is the best way to avoid tooth decay. One of the most overlooked aspects of ensuring your mouth stays healthy is making a visit to see us at least twice a year.
When you come in to see us we can give you teeth a thorough cleaning, making sure to hit all the spots that you routinely miss, and make you aware of any issues that might become a problem in the future.
Schedule Your Filling Today With Your Surprise, AZ Dentist!
Our team would be delighted to advise you on your choices of teeth fillings to repair tooth decay. Please call us today at (602) 842-4864 to schedule an appointment.
