General Dentistry
Dental Fillings
Dental fillings restore (or seal) and preserve a tooth that has been attacked by bacteria and has decayed. Fillings can also be used in a cosmetic context.
The Role of Dental Fillings - Restorative And Cosmetic
A filling is a compound that bonds to the tooth. A filling helps to preserve a tooth's structure and prevents further decay.
This is important because if bacteria reaches the tooths nerve, it can do further damage to teeth and gums. Unfortunately, it can cause a lot of pain. In other words, where the gum disease or tooth decay is left untreated, chronic pain and long-term irreversible damage can result.
Sometimes, all that’s needed is to fill where the tooth structure has broken down. Accordingly, this helps the tooth continue functioning, be healthy and stop further decay.
Finally, a filling can also be used where there is a minor crack or chip. It's also a solution where the tooth has broken down due to erosion or attrition. This is especially obvious with people who grind their teeth (i.e. suffer from Bruxism) or have brittle teeth. In this context, a filling is used as a cosmetic treatment.
Why You Might Need A Dental Filling
If you have a hole or cavity in your tooth, a dental filling is one way of treating it. This may be the case where you have tooth decay. Another reason is because your tooth has suffered a trauma.
What Alternatives Are There To A Dental Filling?
There are a number of alternatives to a dental filling. Of course, deciding which dental solution fits best depends on the particular issue with your tooth. It is also depends on personal choice. Generally, this means weighing up the pros and cons of the alternatives available.
Sometimes, a filling may only provide a temporary solution because the tooth is too damaged. Consequently, the dentist considers whether the tooth's root canal has been impacted. If so, root canal treatment may be a better path. In other situations options may include a crown, bridge, extraction, a dental implant or even a denture.
Often the choice of treatment depends on how severe the tooth decay or bone loss may be. There are lots of dental issues with a range of solutions. Therefore, you should talk with your dentist to select the best treatment option.
Types of Dental Fillings
There are many different types of dental filling materials available. The selection is often a personal choice. Each material has both advantages and disadvantages. In summary, the main materials available include:
- Composite fillings
- Gold filling
- Silver/amalgam fillings (made from a combination of silver copper tin and zinc)
- Porcelain and Zirconia fillings
Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Fillings
If your tooth is has decay, it will start to break down.
Signs To Look For
The first sign might be a small hole (cavity), pain, or sensitivity to hot and cold drinks, sweet foods and cold air.
Other signs include:
- Bleeding gums
- Throbbing and swelling gums
- Pain when chewing
- Tooth has visible discoloration
- Bad breath
- Tooth feels rough when you run your tongue over or around it.
Additionally, other signs are you get food caught in your tooth or the tooth has developed dark spots.
For many, the first sign is a dull ache or pain that radiates from the affected tooth.
Amalgam is the traditional material used in fillings.
Advantages of Amalgam
It is extremely durable and can last for decades.
Disadvantages of Amalgam
The downside of amalgam fillings is that they are silver coloured. As a consequence, this makes them obvious in a mouth full of white teeth.
For some, it is not appealing to have a mouth full of amalgam fillings. Therefore, for some patient's amalgam filling removal is requested.
Composite fillings are tooth coloured fillings.
Advantages Of Composite Fillings
The advantage of composite fillings is that it can be made to match your tooth colour. This means the filling will blend with your natural teeth.
Composites are also strong and will repair the damage to your tooth.
Where Are Composite Fillings Used
Composite fillings can be used on:
- Cracked teeth
- Worn teeth
- Broken teeth
- Decayed teeth
- Closing the space between teeth
Additionally, they come in natural tooth colours, and are matched to your individual tooth colouring.
Gold fillings are durable and resistant. They can last well over 20 years.
Have you heard of gold inlay/onlays? This means the gold material overlays the tooth. As a result, the tooth is protected from further deterioration.
The gold filling is manufactured by the local laboratory. It is made to the specifications of the dentist.
Finally, once the cavity is prepared, the gold filling is cemented into place.
The dental filling procedure is aimed at removing the decay, filling the gap or hole in the teeth and sealing it, to prevent re-infection.
Dental Filling Procedure
Firstly, the tooth is numbed. Secondly, with specialised instruments, the decay and the impacted tooth structure is removed.
Thirdly, special medication is applied to the interior of the tooth by the dentist. The hole or crack is filled/sealed with the filling material.
Finally, the dental filling is polished and adjusted to your specific bite needs.
Temporary Fillings
In some instances, the dentist may choose to provide you with a temporary filling.
In effect, this may be necessary to settle the tooth after the application of medication.
A temporary filling gives the dentist an opportunity to check on it before applying a more permanent solution. This may include either a filling or crown, or root canal treatment (if the nerve of the tooth won’t settle down).
In some instances, problem teeth may need to be extracted.
Once you have a filling, it's important to keep good care of it. This is to ensure it stays intact and bonded to your tooth.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
Keep up with regular dental checkups and maintain good oral hygiene practices. Also, take care brushing around the filling. Generally, this is in the days following the procedure because it is quite tender and your gums may be swollen.
Factors For Long Term Success
The long term success of your filling depends on a variety of factors. These include
- Oral hygiene practices
- Eating and drinking habits.
- General health
- Whether you grind your teeth
- Experiencing tooth decay, bone loss or trauma to the mouth.
Keeping your filling as long as possible is good for the long term outlook of the tooth.
How Long Dental Fillings Last
Fillings can last from 5 to 15 years. However, this depends on a number of factors. These include the fillings material, and the long term care and maintenance of the filling. Other factors include:
- the nature of your bite
- the remaining tooth structure of your teeth
- the number of teeth remaining in your mouth
- and of course, lifestyle choices.
Preventative Dental Care
Dental fillings go a long way to help repair a tooth. Unfortunately, a filling can't repair all the damage a tooth may have. That's why, prevention is always a better choice.
Firstly, at home it's important to keep up with your dental hygiene practices. This means not forgetting to brushing twice a day with a soft bristled brush and use fluoride toothpaste. Also, dental flossing is a must. By flossing, you will get into those hard to reach areas and remove the food particles and bacteria that are wedged in between your teeth. Maintaining a well balanced diet is also a must.
Secondly, a regular dental checkup and a professional dental cleaning are also very beneficial at keeping on top of your dental healthcare.
In summary, preventative dental care includes both at home oral hygiene practices and regular trips to the dentist to check out that everything is ok. Indeed, these go a long way to both preventing tooth decay and avoiding a dental filling in the future.
To find out more about our dental fillings and other dental services, call our friendly staff at Woodville & Seaton Dental Clinic on (08) 8268 5422 or request an appointment online.
