Dental Fillings 101

Have you seen your dentist Mission Viejo and learned that you have a cavity. This means that you will need a filling. If you have never shot one you owe it to yourself to give it a try. What steps are included? What types of materials are used for filling? What are their advantages and disadvantages? Let’s explore these questions.

Every dentist has his own method, but generally the first step will be to apply a local anesthetic to numb the surrounding area. A drill, air blower or laser will be used to engrave the decayed part of the tooth. The dentist will then explore the area to make sure all the wear has been removed. The space will be cleaned and prepared for the filler. Then the filler will come in and finally the dentist will finish and polish it. There are a few extra steps for filling teeth.

When it comes to fillers, there are many. The Mission Viejo dentist will talk to you about your options. Typical options include gold, silver and tooth, plastic and glass. Some variables are involved in the selection of a material, including the extent of wear, the cost of the material, whether or not your insurance will cover it, and your dentist’s expertise and recommendation.

Cast gold fills last 10 to 15 years or more and do not corrode. They can handle the chewing pressure, and some people prefer the appearance of gold fillings. However, they are expensive and require at least 2 office visits to carry out. If you already have a silver amalgam filling and the gold filling is placed right next to it, in rare cases it can also cause a severe pain known as galvanic shock.

Silver fillings also last 10 to 15 years and are well resistant to chewing forces. They are less expensive than gold or composite materials. The downside is that they do not match the color of the teeth and are not as attractive. They can cause gray matter on the surrounding tooth and the material is more sensitive to a large degree of swelling and shrinkage, which can cause cracks in the filling or the surrounding tooth.

Filling teeth perfectly match the color of your tooth and are chemically bonded to the tooth. They can also be used to repair chipped or damaged teeth. Their biggest disadvantage is that they last only about 5 years. They can chip, and cost about 5 times more than silver amalgam.