Restoring Teeth with Dental Fillings
When dental decay compromises a tooth’s structural integrity, a filling gets placed to rebuild its natural form and restore its strength and function.
Because tooth decay, also known as dental caries, remains one of the most prevalent chronic diseases affecting both children and adults worldwide, procedures to place fillings are routinely performed each and every day.
At the office of Greenwich Dental Studio, we provide precise and gentle treatment and maintain a position at the forefront of advances in care to provide patients with the highest quality of aesthetically pleasing and durable dental fillings.
Our Commitment to Restoring Oral Health and Beautiful Smiles
At our office, Drs. Yeterian and Marwaha tailor treatment to address specific dental needs and expectations of care. As with all the services our practice provides, we’ll carefully explain all your options, including the type of dental filling materials we offer to restore your tooth. Our goal is to gently remove dental decay and damaged tooth structure, and then rebuild your tooth’s form and function, providing you with healthy, durable, long-lasting, and cosmetically pleasing results.
Composite Fillings
Composite fillings, frequently referred to as “tooth-colored fillings” or “white fillings,” consist of a combination of biocompatible resins and finely ground, glass-like filler materials that become strong and durable when set.
Available in a complete range of natural-looking shades, composite fillings offer a cosmetically pleasing alternative to traditional “silver” fillings. They are also used in dental bonding procedures to improve a tooth’s color or shape, mask defects, or close minor gaps between teeth.
Composite fillings adhere to natural tooth structure through a bonding process, which also serves to seal and strengthen the tooth. Beyond providing a close match to your natural tooth color, a composite filling requires less tooth structure removal for placement, and it is not subject to expansion or contraction with temperature changes, unlike dental amalgams. However, composite restorations can be more susceptible to wear and staining and may require replacement over time.
Silver Fillings (Amalgam)
For many years, amalgam fillings represented the standard of care for restoring decayed teeth. While they don’t offer the cosmetic appeal of other types of filling materials, amalgam restorations are strong, durable, and less likely than some other types of fillings to break or wear down.
Glass Ionomers
Another type of white filling material, glass ionomer cements, bonds to the tooth’s surface to provide a tight seal between the tooth and the surrounding oral environment. Besides offering a natural-looking restoration, glass ionomer cements slowly release fluoride to strengthen and help protect the involved tooth from future decay.
Since they are not as durable or wear-resistant as other filling materials, glass ionomers are most frequently used to treat baby teeth, cavities near the gum line, and in temporary fillings.
Ceramic Fillings
Ceramic fillings, inlays, and onlays are fabricated from the highest quality of dental porcelain and ceramics. As the most stain and wear-resistant option in tooth-colored fillings, these restorations offer durable, attractive, and long-lasting results. While “direct” fillings, such as dental amalgam and composite fillings, are placed immediately after the tooth is prepared, “indirect” fillings, such as inlays or onlays, are fabricated outside the mouth before insertion and cementation or bonding.
Gold Fillings
Far less common these days and more expensive than other materials, gold fillings remain excellent restorations. With excellent physical and chemical properties, gold fillings are strong, long-lasting, kind to the surrounding tissues, and remain stable over time.
How Are Cavities Treated?
Once our office has assessed your smile, we’ll outline a comprehensive treatment plan to help ensure your smile is healthy and functions optimally. If any tooth decay is detected, we’ll schedule appointments to treat those cavities and place the necessary fillings or restorations.
Patient care and comfort are top priorities for Drs. Yeterian and Marwaha. While treating cavities and placing fillings are among the most routine procedures in dentistry, our office understands that you have questions and concerns and will keep you well-informed every step of the way.
Treating a cavity involves the precise and gentle removal of decayed and damaged tooth structure, as well as any necessary preparation of the remaining tooth structure to secure your new filling. Although every patient and every smile is unique, you can expect your visit to last approximately an hour.
In most cases, this visit is performed under local anesthesia. As the work is performed, your tooth will be completely numb, and you should not feel any discomfort. A dental drill, dental laser, or air abrasion technology can be used to remove decay.
Once the cavity gets excavated, and healthy tooth structure remains, it’s time to place the filling. The type of dental filling material being used determines the manner of placement. Composite fillings, glass ionomer cements, and amalgam fillings are typically placed right away. However, in the case of an extensive cavity, a tiny palliative dressing and a temporary filling may be placed.
Regardless of the type of filling used, our office will verify the fit, perform any necessary polishing, and meticulously adjust the bite to ensure optimal comfort and function.
For patients who are anxious about dental work, you can rest assured that our dentists are mindful of your needs and concerns. As skilled and experienced providers, we take pride in offering gentle dentistry and strive to make your visit comfortable and stress-free. While we perform dental procedures under local anesthesia, we’re also happy to discuss options in dental sedation.
What Do I Need to Know Following the Placement of My New Filling?
Immediately following your dental visit, you may experience a period of lingering numbness. Normal sensation typically returns within one to two hours. However, until the anesthetic has completely worn off, it’s essential to protect yourself from unintentionally biting or injuring your lips, cheeks, gums, or tongue. Be mindful of chewing, drinking hot beverages, or smoking.
Now that your tooth has been restored and rebuilt, it may feel slightly different. While we take the utmost care to polish your new filling and ensure the bite is correct, on rare occasions, a patient may feel that additional minor smoothing or further bite adjustment is required.
It’s perfectly normal for a tooth to feel slightly sensitive after the placement of a filling. You may experience a twinge when eating cold or hot foods and beverages. This sensitivity should subside on its own within a few days. If your sensitivity worsens, you experience ongoing pain, or develop any other symptoms, please contact our office.
How Long Do Fillings Last?
Our office uses the latest generations of strong and durable filling materials. With proper oral hygiene and routine care, your new filling should last for many years to come. However, in cases of extensive tooth decay or injury to the underlying tooth, even the best restoration may need to be replaced, or further dental work may be necessary in the future.
Schedule a Consultation Today
Dr. Yeterian and Dr. Marwaha are highly skilled in placing dental fillings and restoring patients’ smiles. To learn more about your filling options or find out if this is the best treatment for you, contact our office. Call (203) 869-2884 or request an appointment online.