Many patients dread thinking about cavities and the need to get fillings. But while repairing cavities isn’t always fun, it does equate to long-term pain relief and maintaining a healthy tooth structure.
We’d like to take some time to talk about the types of fillings that are available for patients with cavities, and what you can expect during the process of getting fillings.
Types
Gone are the days of exclusively metallic fillings. Patients now have several options for fillings that are all appropriate for different dental needs. Let’s look at the three most common types of fillings:
That metallic filling that may come to mind—silver amalgam—is the most well-known of the dental fillings and is still widely used today. It’s popular with dentists and patients alike because it’s strong, long-lasting and inexpensive.
However, it’s not very pleasing to look at, so this type of filling is often reserved for back teeth that are not highly visible.
A more popular filling choice for the visible front teeth is composite fillings. These fillings are made from a combination of resin and plastic material and can be made to match the color of the surrounding tooth. However, they are more expensive and not as long-lasting as silver fillings.
Ceramic fillings are more commonly used for areas that need larger fillings or restorations. They are both durable and natural-looking and more resistant to staining and wearing down than composite fillings. However, they are also the most expensive of these three fillings!
Process
Once it’s been determined that a patient has a cavity that needs fillings and the right type of filling for his or her needs has been selected, it’s time for the process of filling the cavity.
The dentist starts by applying a local anesthetic to the affected area. First, a numbing gel is applied to the gum area, and then an injection of Novocain or another local anesthetic is administered.
Once the anesthetic takes effect—usually in about 15 minutes—the dentist removes the decay and any parts of the tooth damaged by decay using a high-speed dental drill. Thanks to the anesthetic, this part of the procedure is pain-free, and most patients feel only pressure from the drill.
After all the decay is removed, the dentist then makes sure that the remaining hole is sized and shaped correctly for adding the fillings. Standard fillings are applied to the hole in a soft form and then shaped and hardened.
Once the fillings are hardened in place, the dentist takes some time to refine the shape and polish the filling, leaving the shape as natural and comfortable as possible!