Dental Filling Treatment

Dental Filling is a procedure to restore missing Tooth structure, if not done in time can result in decay or trauma. This Decay converts that tooth in a hollow tooth. To protect it from further decaying and to fill the gap Dental Filling is a must. Teeth that are broken or cracked due to habits like nail biting, grinding etc  a filling is used to repair those teeth also.

Before & After Treatment

A Tooth-Coloured filling

Before

After

Anterior Decay

Before

After

Silver Fillings replaced with Composite

Before

After

Broken Tooth

Before

After

When Dental Filling requires ?

Symptoms that indicates the requirement of Filling are as below:

  • A hole in your tooth
  • Dark spots on the tooth
  • Food stuck between certain areas of the teeth
  • Chipped or broken tooth
  • Sensitivity to hot and cold food and beverage
  • Single or multiple cavities

Procedure applied while Dental Filling

To prevent further decaying or damage to your tooth and to protect it for a long, Dental Filling is required.

  • To begin the treatment, it is necessary to know the exact condition of  infected tooth, as Dental Filling can be done only for minor fractures and decay. 
  • To know the exact condition of the tooth it is necessary to do X-Ray, it depends on the condition of teeth weather a normal X-Ray will fulfill the requirement or a IOPA i.e. Full Mout X-Ray is needed.
  • Sometimes local anesthesia is required to complete the procedure, this depends on the extend of infection to make the infected area daze. 
  • After this preparation and if the tooth found decayed or damaged then the process of removal of damaged tooth has to be start with the help of hand piece or laser for restoration.
  • After completion of cleaning procedure filling is then applied in the hollow area of tooth to fill the cavity. The type of filling depends upon case to case and person to person.
  • The concluding Stage of Dental Filling is to polish the tooth. 

Reasons to get Dental Filling done

To keep your teeth safe from decaying, get fillings done timely is necessary. If you ignore this, the outer part of your teeth i.e. Enamel got damaged / decayed, because of this the hard part below Enamel i.e. Dentin will get exposed and the bacteria in your mouth will start infecting Dentin, this will cause sensitivity problem. At this time if you ignore the problem in next stage the infection will reach to the nerve, which will finally damage the tooth and the only option remain with you will be Root Canal treatment. This may affect other tooth also.

Types of Dental Fillings

Dental Fillings are of various types. The type of filling to be used will depend upon the condition of decay and other factors such as a person being allergic to a material. The different type of fillings available are:

Metal Filling

This old age filling is long lasting. In this type, Silver Filling is comparatively inexpensive but gold though expensive is a preferred choice because they can withstand chewing forces and last usually from 10-15 years.

Amalgam Filling

These are the most researched and widely used by dental professionals since quite long time. They are made of several metals combined, therefore, they have very high strength quality.

Composite Filling

These are of the same color as your teeth. These are preferred when a person does not want their filing to be seen. It is recommended & suitable for front teeth. It bonds well with the tooth structure. It is also used for a chipped tooth, however, does not last long as compared to metal and amalgam filling and can also tear off with time.

Porcelain / Ceramic Filling

The porcelain filling is best suited if you have serious aesthetic concerns. These cover most part of the tooth, as a result, can be used if the decay is large enough. This long-lasting filling does not stain or wear off easily.

Post Treatment Care for Dental Filling

  • Before you start chewing, make sure that the anesthesia is worn off
  • Do not consume anything too hot or too cold if the effect of anesthesia is still on
  • You might feel soreness around your gum area, this will last only for a few days
  • Avoid hard or sticky food for a few days
  • If you have a habit of grinding your teeth, then make sure to use a mouth guard to protect your filling
  • If you feel sensitivity for too long or if your dental fillings come out, visit your dentist immediately
  • Maintain a good Oral Hygiene routine like cleaning, brushing, mouthwash & flossing.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q.1. How long does a Dental Filling last?

The longevity of Dental Filling depends upon the material of the filling. It also depends on how well you take care of your filling. The life of Dental Filling varies from 10 years to 20 years.

Q.2. Can Dental Filling fall off?

Yes, but the chances are rare.

Q.3. What to do if your fillings come out?

Visit your dentist as soon as your Dental Filling comes out.

Q.4. How to know that dental filling is loose?

If you have sensitivity even after getting the filling done, then it is likely that your filling is about to come off OR if you feel pressure while eating or have a constant toothache then the chances of it’s coming off is high.