DENTAL FILLINGS

Dental fillings and restorative care help reduce tooth pain

If left untreated, toothaches can result in increased discomfort and long-term damage. If you or your child experiences tooth pain of any kind, schedule an appointment to see our dentist as soon as possible. We’ll provide treatment that will allow you to eat, smile, and talk without pain.

Toothache Symptoms & Causes

Toothaches can result from a variety of causes. If your tooth pain lasts longer than a few days or is accompanied by a fever or earache, schedule an appointment with our dentist. Be sure to monitor your/or your’s child’s symptoms closely if they complain of pain.

Types of Dental Fillings

When tooth pain stems from a cavity, your dentist will most likely recommend a filling. They’ll clean the tooth, remove the decay and restore the tooth with the filling material. This filling will prevent future bacteria from settling in the tooth. Several types of filling materials exist, and our dentist will work with you or your child to decide what would be best for your individual case.

There are two main types of dental fillings: composite and amalgam. Each is durable, but a dentist will advise what material is the best based on the location and size of the cavity.

Composite Resin Dental Fillings

These are tooth-colored and match your teeth. Composite fillings are made with a mixture of quartz or glass, which creates a strong and aesthetically-pleasing filling. Natural-colored fillings are best for small-to-medium-sized fillings that do not need to withstand as much chewing pressure as molar teeth. Discuss your options with your dentist.

Amalgam Dental Fillings

These are silver-colored and have been one of the most common filling materials. Amalgam fillings are easy for dentists to work with and are more affordable for patients. These are made from a combination of metals including mercury, silver, tin and copper. The durability of silver amalgam fillings makes them the best choice for large cavities or cavities in the back teeth. The molar teeth are used most during chewing, and amalgam fillings can withstand these forces to provide a long-term, reliable filling for a cavity. On average, an amalgam filling lasts eight to ten years. Amalgam also hardens quickly, which is very beneficial if the filling needed is on a hard-to-reach tooth or if the filling is for a child.

If treatment other than a filling is needed to alleviate your pain, your dentist will suggest specialty treatment such as dental crowns, root canal therapy, or dental implants.