Fillings

Fillings are one of the most common treatments performed by dentists. They are used to treat cavities in the teeth caused by decay and will also be used to restore broken or cracked teeth. Teeth that have become worn over time or have been damaged by constant grinding can also be restored by the use of fillings. Fillings have been performed in dentistry for over a century and the materials and procedures that are now used can leave your teeth looking natural and healthy; the latest material used in fillings can be indistinguishable from your own teeth.
Why Fillings are Needed
Tooth decay will cause holes in the tooth enamel; if this decay is left untreated it will progress further into the tooth, progress into the dental pulp and will cause abscesses. Once the dentist has found a cavity in your teeth, he will need to remove any underlying decay and then fill the cavity. You may have already had a filling in the past that has become cracked or worn down and this will need to be restored. Often people are unaware that their fillings are damaged, but pressure when chewing food can wear down or crack a filling; this will allow bacteria to enter the tooth and cause decay. Dental fillings only a have a certain lifespan, some can last for up to 15 years depending on the material used, and replacing or restoring fillings is a necessity to avoid tooth decay.The Dental Filling Treatment
Once the dentist has ascertained that you are a candidate for a filling there are a few options available to you. The most common filling will be a direct filling using a dental amalgam. The filling procedure will usually be performed after a local anaesthetic that will numb the area to be treated. If you are particularly nervous or have a fear of injections you should ask your dentist if they offer some form of sedation dentistry as an alternative to the needle. The dentist will then use an instrument of his choice; this can be either a drill, laser or air abrasion tool that will be used to remove the decayed region of the tooth. After removing the decay, the dentist will then clear the cavity of any bacteria before applying the chosen filling. The final step is to clean and polish the filling.Depending on the depth of the decay and the type of filling used, there may be more steps to the filling procedure. If the decay is close to the root then a special liner may be placed there to protect the nerve. Extra finishing work may be needed if you have chosen a tooth coloured filling, in which case layers of filling will be applied and a light will be used to harden each layer after application. The dentist will then have to shape the filling to the tooth and trim any excess followed by a final polish.