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Tooth filling is a common dental procedure used to fill cavities that have formed, usually as a result of decay or tooth wear. There are generally two types of material used in tooth filling:
Tooth Colored (Composite) Filling:
Composite fillings, also known as tooth colored fillings, were created as a natural looking and unnoticeable alternative to traditional metal fillings. Tooth colored restorations are made of composite quartz resin, which is bonded directly to your existing tooth, creating a tight, superior fit. The advanced bonding technology reduces the risk of leakage or decay under the filling and adds strength to weakened teeth.
Amalgam Filling:
Amalgam, also called silver filling, has been used in dentistry for decades. It is commonly used to fix a decayed tooth and restore its shape and function. Amalgam is extremely durable and able to withstand the grinding and chewing of the molar teeth over long periods of time.
Procedure:
- Most of the time, local anesthetic (Novocaine) is used to numb the area for patient comfort while the filling is being done.
- The decayed tooth is excavated and all the decay is removed.
- For an amalgam filling:
o The tooth is shaped in a specific manner in order accept a silver filling.
o A band is placed around the tooth and the amalgam is condensed into the prepared tooth.
o An amalgam filling becomes fully hardened in about two weeks, but you may safely chew on it just after 24 hours.
- For tooth colored fillings:
o The tooth is etched, creating microscopic roughness to allow the filling material to tightly bond with the tooth.
o The composite resin is added and bonded to the teeth with a light curing beam that hardens the material instantly, making it strong.
- After any type of filling is placed, your dentist will finish it by polishing the filling and adjusting your bite.
- All fillings restore normal tooth anatomy and function by filling in a cavity created by decay or trauma.
Regular dental check-ups (every 6 months) are important for the maintenance of a filling and early detection of any wearing, cracking or wearing.
Replacing Silver Fillings with a Tooth Colored Restoration
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Many patients choose to replace their existing silver fillings with a tooth colored restoration.
This is a common and fairly easy procedure that can be done in one appointment with our Cerec technology.
First, the old filling is removed, along with any additional decay. A digital 3D camera is used to take an image, scanning it into a computer. Your dentist uses this technology to design the exact contours of your restoration and sends the image to be milled. In about 15 minutes the new onlay is ready. The restoration is placed in your mouth, fitted, polished and bonded with a light cure cement creating a strong and beautiful white filling.
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