Getting that Tooth Filled
When you have a cavity in a tooth, the most common treatment option is a filling. Fillings are also placed on teeth that have been damaged in other ways including those that have been worn down due to nail biting or grinding, or those that have been chipped.
Your dentist will evaluate your need for a filling. Once it’s determined that a filling is the best treatment option, the dentist will discuss with you the various filling options that make sense for the damaged tooth. A number of filling options are available, and their differences center on the types of material used for each. Some are made with combinations of metals that can withstand much chewing. Other materials are not as strong and are good choices for small-sized cavities or cavities that appear between the teeth.
What used to be the most common type of dental filling and the type that has been around the longest is the amalgam filling. The metal elements in amalgam include tin, silver, mercury, and copper. It is less expensive to use, durable, and user friendly. It can withstand much chewing. It can be used where esthetics is not a consideration. We use this material infrequently in our office today.
White bonded composite materials are now the materials of choice for restoring either front teeth or back teeth, and are the state of the art for restoring teeth that are not too severely broken down. A composite filling is the same color as the tooth, so we are able to restore teeth with this material to an unparalleled level of beauty. The change that occurs when replacing old worn out silver amalgam with a modern composite is nothing short of dramatic!
Each type of filling requires a unique preparation process and a final polish is done.
There may be slight sensitivity in the area of the filling for a week or two. Temperature, pressure, sweets, and air can all cause the area to feel sensitive. If sensitivity does not go away relatively soon, contact Lisa for an appointment with Dr. Rumberger.
Older fillings may crack or weaken and fall out. Sometimes fillings can be replaced and sometimes other alternatives need to be considered.