Can Dental Fillings Help Tooth Decay?

Do you worry that you may need to lose your natural tooth because of a developing cavity? Modern dentistry provides different approaches that can spare you the thought of extracting your natural teeth. Procedures like dental fillings are impactful for repairing teeth’ structure to preserve natural teeth after dental cavities.

What Are Dental Fillings?

They are direct dental restorations that restore diseased and damaged teeth. Dental fillings in Fairfield, CT, entail using different dental materials to fill and replace the damaged part of the tooth. Given how prominent dental cavities are among children and adults globally, you may understand why tooth fillings are among the most common dental procedures in restorative dentistry.

How Do Dental Fillings Help Tooth Decay?

A restorative dentist in Fairfield, CT, will begin the dental work on your tooth by removing the carious tooth structure. Some dentists prefer to use a conventional dental drill, while others use air abrasion dentistry. Either way, the goal is to remove all the infected tooth structures. After such intense cleaning, your tooth will be free from bacteria. The dentist may decide to apply a topical antibacterial product to prevent re-infection on the tooth before continuing the treatment.

Once the tooth is ready, you can receive a dental filling of choice. Depending on your selection, Dr. Dani Dental – Pannese DDS, LLC will use the filling material to create a new layer over the tooth. The material will fill the hole that was initially inhabited by the cavity. The size and extent of the cavity will determine how much filling material is necessary for your treatment. If a sizeable dental filling is necessary, your dentist will recommend placing a dental crown over the treated tooth. The dental crown will help hold the filling in place while reinforcing your tooth structure.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Dental Filling?

The procedure for getting dental fillings is rather simple. The duration of the treatment will differ depending on the severity of the cavity. The relatively painless procedure typically lasts about 20 minutes in a dental office for a simple procedure. Larger fillings take longer because they require additional dental restorations that take time to create. The type of filling material may also affect the duration of your treatment.

What Are the Different Types of Dental Fillings?

All the materials featured for dental fillings are sturdy enough to repair damaged tooth enamels. However, they all have advantages and disadvantages that may influence your decision. The different types include:

1. Gold fillings – they feature gold as the primary component. The gold alloy makes these types of dental fillings more expensive than their counterparts. However, they are very sturdy, especially for molars and premolars that withstand frequent chewing.
2. Silver fillings or amalgams – are alternative metal fillings to gold fillings. They feature a silver metal alloy comprising other metals like mercury and zinc. They are significantly more affordable than gold fillings, offering similar sturdiness for restoring teeth. However, the color of the silver fillings is too conspicuous and unappealing to patients who are self-conscious about their aesthetic appearance.
3. Composite fillings or white fillings – feature tooth-colored composite resin that matches the color of natural teeth. While they are sturdy enough to get the job done, they do not last as long as other types of dental fillings.
4. Porcelain fillings – are also tooth-colored dental fillings that match the color of natural teeth. They are sturdier than composite fillings and have a more natural result. However, they require more preparation before installation, which makes them a bit more expensive than amalgams and composite fillings, almost the cost of gold fillings.
5. Glass ionomer fillings – are also called dental sealants, typically used for preventive dental care. They feature a special type of glass called acrylic, which contains fluoride released on teeth’ enamels slowly over time. They are a great preventive solution for increasing your teeth’ resistance to dental cavities.

Summary

Dental fillings are among the best solutions for treating dental cavities to help your preserve your natural tooth. Besides, compared to other treatment options like root canals, tooth fillings are less invasive and just as effective for treating pain and restoring teeth.