Missing teeth can ruin your smile and seriously impact your oral health. A dental implant is a dental prosthesis, typically made of metal or porcelain, inserted into the jawbone to support a dental crown matched to the exact shape and color of surrounding teeth. The result is a synthetic tooth that looks and feels natural while maintaining as much stability and resilience as a natural tooth.
Before we begin a tooth filling, we will take the time to carefully numb the gum tissue so we can gently freeze the area around the tooth. People often feel anxious about this step– but we assure them that they’ll feel no pain. Freezing numbs your teeth and surrounding area so you barely feel a thing during the dental filling procedure.
Once we confirm that the area around the tooth is sufficiently numb, your tooth is carefully cleaned and prepped for the fillings. An adhesive gel is placed on the affected tooth over which a composite resin (the white teeth filling material) will be molded and sculpted to match your tooth contours and bite alignment.
The composite resin material used in the composite filling is quickly cured and bonded to the tooth with a special LED light. The doctor will carefully examine your finished tooth and make any finishing touches before giving it a final polish.
We place great importance on promptly filling cavities and recognize the effectiveness of fillings in preventing the need for more invasive, potentially painful and costly dental procedures. By prioritizing prompt cavity treatment, we aim to keep our patients happy, healthy, and free of serious dental pain.
With a normal daily brushing and flossing routine and regularly scheduled cleanings and checkups, your fillings should last well over ten years.
Fillings used to be done with an alloy called ‘dental amalgam’ and had many nicknames such as “silver” and “mercury” fillings. While there is plenty of debate over the safety of amalgam fillings, according to the Canadian Dental Association, scientific studies have not verified that dental amalgam is causing illness in the general population. So if you currently have silver fillings, don’t fear!
There are over-the-counter products available to temporarily fill a cavity or minor tooth damage until you can make it to the dentist, but they are not a permanent solution and cannot replace a professional dental filling. A cavity is permanent tooth damage that must be cleaned, prepared, and filled by a dental professional. There are severe risks associated with letting dental decay continue to worsen. If left untreated, cavities can lead to tooth loss and tooth abscess, or more serious infections.
If you are experiencing severe pain that prevents you from eating or sleeping, this is considered a dental emergency and we urge you to call us right away. We can give you advice over the phone and see you as soon as possible. For temporary relief of toothache, apply a cold compress to your face over the painful area. You may be able to take the edge off your pain by taking a pain reliever like acetaminophen (ex. Tylenol) or ibuprofen (ex. Advil). Always follow the advice of your doctor and read the instructions on the bottle when taking any medication. Make a note of what medication, how much and the time it was taken so you can let us know when you come in.
Any sensitivity following a tooth filling should not last more than four weeks. If sensitivity doesn’t lessen over time or persists after four weeks, contact your doctor.
White fillings– or “tooth-colored fillings” – are made from a composite resin material. This resin is blended with plastics and elements like silica which work to emulate the natural appearance and color of teeth.
