Dental Fillings at Linworth Family Dental

Dental fillings offer a quick and straightforward way to address cavities. A filling is a minimal treatment that prevents further damage from taking place, which is why it’s considered a preventive dentistry service.

Here at Linworth Family Dental, our team of dentists performs dental cavity fillings to restore our patients’ teeth and oral health. A filling stops tooth decay while helping prevent treatments like root canals or extractions.

What Is a Dental Filling?

Substances in your mouth like bacteria and plaque can in time lead to a cavity, which is caused by tooth decay. A filling is the simple and early method we use to address tooth decay. By treating the decay early with a filling, we keep the infection from spreading beyond the tooth to impact the gums and tooth roots.

The filling process removes the decayed part of the tooth and restores it, so you keep your natural tooth and bring it back to its full strength and function. A filling only involves a small treatment area that is less extensive than inlays or onlays.

The filling that is added to the tooth to restore it can be made from various materials. While metal amalgam was a common choice in the past and is still used today, modern patients and dentists tend to prefer porcelain options. Porcelain is strong and resembles the appearance of real teeth, creating an optimal smile while improving oral health.

How Does a Filling Visit Work?

Our team will likely take digital X-rays to get a complete picture of the cavity. During your filling appointment, Dr. Whittaker, Dr. Glasgow or Dr. Soungpradith numbs the area and then quickly drills a small opening in the tooth.

Your designated dentist takes out the decayed part of the tooth and cleans the opening. Then, they add the filling material and mold it to resemble the shape of a natural tooth. They finish this dental treatment by hardening the filling, which gives you a strong restoration with full tooth structure and function.

Do Dental Fillings Last Long?

A filling offers a strong and simple way to fix a damaged tooth. The natural tooth won’t last for a lifetime without treatment, as the problem progresses if left unchecked. Compared to that, a filling restores your tooth and helps you have a healthy, strong tooth for a long time. It may last for about five years or up to 12 years, depending on the material and your oral hygiene.

Taking care of the filling through regular brushing and flossing, just as you would with a natural tooth, helps to keep it in good condition. Also, you may want to avoid biting hard foods. In time, you or your dentist may notice the filling has lost its integrity or fallen out. In this case, our dentists restore the filling or replace it with a new one.