Overview
A dental filling can be understood as an approach for restoring a tooth that has been decayed to its ordinary shape and function. When someone suffers from a condition like the presence of a cavity in their tooth, a filling is recommended by the dentist. Let’s understand a process that can take place inside the mouth.
When you eat something and food particles, along with a plaque, keep in contact with the teeth for lengthened time because of improper brushing or something sticky or sweet has remained, there can be a gathering of bacteria build-up, causing toxins and acid discharge that suspend the enamel. The enamel then changes to its original colour, and the colour change depending on how much it has weakened or dissolved from colours like light to dark yellow, then light brown to dark brown and finally jet black.
Steps Involved in a Dental Filling
When someone is advised to have a dental filling in their tooth, they will be given a local anesthetic to numb the region around the tooth to be filled. This contains gums and surrounding skin, so discomfort should be avoided or lessened during the process. After that, help can be taken from a drill, laser, or air abrasion instrument to eliminate the decayed part. The usage of an instrument will be based on the dentist’s comfort level for the treatment, his training, or maybe the location and extent of the decay. When decay has been removed, the dentist may probe or test the part to ensure that all the decay has been eliminated.
Once the decay is eliminated from the patient’s mouth, the practitioner will arrange the space for the dental filling by cleaning the cavity of debris and bacteria. When there is a presence of decay close to the root, the dentist may put a liner made up of composite resin, glass ionomer, or some other material that can be used to defend the nerve. Generally, the dentist will finish and polish it after filling. Once the dental filling is done, the mouth will remain numb for some more hours. In such cases, make sure to follow the instructions given by the dentist and avoid those things that can create problems or risks.
Types of Dental Fillings
When the discussion about the cavity to be filled comes up, it becomes crucial to know that the patient has the right to choose, after consulting with their oral surgeon that what materials and treatment procedures will be applied to the dental care. Talking about available options in the segment of dental fillings, there are composite resins, dental amalgam, gold fillings, etc.
Composite Resins
They can also be identified as tooth-coloured fillings produced with a combination of glass or quartz filler. These things can deliver superior resistance and durability to fracture in tiny to mid-size fillings, which require enduring modest pressure from chewing. The colour or shade of composite resins can be closely matched with the colour of existing teeth, and they prove to be well suited, especially for visible parts of the teeth or the one who stands in front. Apart from the quality of being used as a filling material for decay, they can also be used in broken, worn or chipped teeth.
Dental Amalgams
They are made from metals like copper, tin, silver, and mercury. Sometimes it is also described as silver-coloured fillings. Amalgam proves to be durable and has been adopted for generations by oral practitioners. It has been said that amalgams can live a life of at least 10 to 15 years and proves to be less expensive than composite fillings. They also prove to have a good strength that can withstand chewing forces.
Gold Fillings
They are composed of an alloy of things like copper, gold and other metals. They can also be known as inlays or onlays. It contains a nice durability of nearly 10 to 15 years and does not corrode. It also contains strength like silver-coloured fillings that can withstand forces. Compared to silver fillings, their presence can be more pleasing.
Some other filling types include glass ionomer and ceramics. Talking about glass ionomers, they are made of acrylic and a particular glass material. Ceramics are made most often of porcelain. They are more resistant to staining than composite resin material and can last about 15 years.
Cost of Dental Filling
The cost varies from place to place. Along with that, there will be some factors like the material being used by the practitioner, the size of the filling, the amount of residual structure of the teeth, and the material being implemented by the dentist. You can ask for the exact amount of dental filling from the dentist whom you manage to take the treatment.
Other Things to Keep In Mind
There might be a presence of some symptoms, and they can range from mild to moderate which will settle under some days. Talking about preventative maintenance and aftercare, people must know that cavities or decay can be prevented by different kinds of procedures like applying fluoride application for attracting more calcium and protecting the tooth from bacterial acid breakdown and sealants in the teeth’s fissures to avoid food lodgment.
The life of a dental filling can be supposed to go anywhere from three to seven years, but annual regular checkups will be required. There might be a condition when the doctor recommends not to eat or drink for some hours. It is because this activity may outcome in a person accidentally biting their cheek or tongue.
When a dental filling is present in the tooth, one of the most common occurrences can be identified as sensitivity. Some of the factors that can be responsible for triggering sensitivity after a dental filling contain sugary foods like candy, biting down at the time of eating, acidic foods and drinks, the air hitting the tooth, hot drinks like coffee, cold foods or drinks like ice cream or beverages with ice. That’s why we recommend you follow the instructions given by your dentist and stay protected from such problems.