What are Dental Fillings for?
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How do I Know that I Need Dental Fillings?
If you have damaged teeth, you’re a likely candidate for tooth fillings. But sometimes, teeth damage may not be so noticeable at first glance. Here are some signs that you may need tooth fillings.
- Your tooth has a crack or a hole.
- There’s a rough spot on your tooth from chipping off
- Gaps between your teeth cause floss to break or food to be stuck
- Dark spots from cavities
- Lost or worn-down fillings
If you find any signs, your teeth need more than brushing to fix them. A damaged tooth is more vulnerable to further damage unless filled.
Here in our Southbury practice, your dentist will confirm if you need dental fillings with a quick examination. They may even take an x-ray of your teeth to see the extent of the damage if required.
Your regular checkups can also confirm if you need tooth fillings. In addition, having a regular checkup lets your dentist address your dental issues before they worsen.
What Types of Dental Fillings will be Used?
After the examination, your dentist will discuss the state of the damage and how they will repair it. Then, depending on your case, you may choose the type of dental filling. Or your dentist will recommend what filling they will use. Your dentist here at Southbury Clinic may introduce to you the following fillings:
Cast Gold Filling
Durability
15 Yrs
Average Cost Per Tooth
$400
This cavity filling is composed of copper, gold, and other metals. It can last 10-15 years, making it one of the most durable fillings. However, it is one of the most expensive too. It can cost an average of $500 per tooth.
Silver Filling
Durability
15 Yrs
Average Cost Per Tooth
$150
This filling is from a mixture of silver, mercury, and other metals. Just like gold fillings, it lasts up to 10-15 years. However, this metal tooth filling can discolor teeth with a gray hue. It can also crack the tooth from expanding and contracting from hot or cold liquids.
Composite Filling
Durability
7 Yrs
Average Cost Per Tooth
$200
Glass Ionomer
Durability
5 YrS
Average Cost Per Tooth
$270
Ceramics
Durability
15 Yrs
Average Cost Per Tooth
$200
Does it Hurt to Get a Cavity Filled?
No, your dentist will apply a numbing cream on your gums. Once your gums are numb, they inject the area with local anesthesia. It will fill like a slight pinprick.
Here at Dr. Kest’s Southbury practice, we aim to give you the utmost comfortable experience from procedure to post-operative care. See “What to Expect in a Dental Filling Procedure” to know more.
Preparing for a Dental Filling Procedure
Once your Southbury dentist confirms that you need cavity fillings, you must schedule another appointment. You may need to set multiple appointments if you have more than one tooth needing filling.
If you have dental anxiety, scheduling in the morning will allow you to not worry about it for the rest of the day.
Filling a tooth can take less than an hour. So you may not need to take a day off from work or school for it.
Before the appointment, we advised eating a meal here in Dr. Kest’s Southbury practice. You will need to eat a meal because the local anesthetic may not wear off immediately after the procedure, and you may accidentally bite your tongue due to numbness. We will discuss more of this later in “What is the Aftercare of Dental Filling?” below.
Brushing your teeth is also recommended.
What to Expect in a Dental Filling Procedure
The dental filling procedure is a non-invasive procedure to restore your tooth. Your dentist will apply an anesthetic and clean your tooth first. Then they will fill the damaged parts of your tooth and polish it afterward.
1. Anesthesia
The local anesthetic can be lidocaine, epinephrine, or benzocaine. The anesthesia will stop the nerve on your tooth from sending pain signals to your brain once it starts cleaning.
Some patients may need sedation dentistry, especially those with severe anxiety. Discussing it with your dentist in our Southbury practice will determine your need.
2. Cleaning
A damaged tooth is most vulnerable to decay and infection. Once the gum area is numb, your dentist will use a specialized handheld tool to drill away the decay and water to wash the debris. Next, a dental assistant will use a section to siphon the water and debris.
Here in our Southbury practice, our dentists also use soft tissue lasers to sterilize the cleaned portions of your tooth.
3. Filling
As mentioned before, there are different types of fillings which will depend on the patient’s case and preference.
Here at Dr. Kest’s Southbury practice, we primarily use the composite filling for our patients. The composite filling is not just practical; it is also cosmetic. Its teeth-colored filling makes the tooth look seamless. It creates a better seal over your tooth by micro-bonding with its structure. Most of all, it doesn’t contract and expand when exposed to hot or cold liquids.
Before adding the filling, your dentist will add an adhesive first to make the composite bond with the tooth. If the decay was near its root, they might add a liner first made from the same material as the filling.
A layer of filling is then applied. Next, the dentist’s assistant will use a special light on the area to harden the filling. The process repeats until the area is filled and sealed to prevent bacteria from entering it.
4. Smooth and Polish
What is the Aftercare for Dental Filling?
How soon can I eat after a Dental Filling?
Why is my jaw Sore after a Dental Filling?
What should I do if my Dental Filling Hurt?
There will be a slight discomfort for a day or two after the procedure, especially if it’s a deep filling near the nerve. Then, like curing fresh cement, it will be sensitive to pressure and temperature changes. If you are experiencing discomfort beyond a day or two, contact your dentist.
However, biting may hurt because the filling is too high or cracked. If you experience pulsing pain, it may indicate a more serious oral health issue. Contact your dentist here in Southbury practice so that we can address any of these discomforts.
Other Dental Filling dos and Don'ts
Treat a new dental filling like fresh curing cement. That means no applying great pressure and extreme temperature changes. Avoid anything that can weaken its structure. For teeth, that means avoiding exposing them to things that cause tooth decay, like sugar.
Here are dos and don’ts for caring for your tooth that we give our Southbury patients after the procedure.
- Bite and chew carefully and slowly. Too much pressure on your newly filled tooth can crack the filling. Make it a habit to bite and chew away from the filled tooth carefully.
- Avoid hard foods for a week. Like fresh, curing cement, your newly filled tooth is pressure-sensitive. Eating hard foods like fried breaded chicken skin can crack the new dental filling before it can fully set.
- Avoid hot or cold drinks for a week. Like fresh, curing cement that can crack at sudden temperature changes, a new tooth filling can also break when exposed to the same factors. Also, avoiding hot or cold drinks can help you avoid tooth sensitivity.
- Avoid sticky foods for a week. Sticky foods like caramel can dislodge dental filling, especially amalgam.
- Avoid sugary foods for a week. Sugar can trigger tooth sensitivity and promote tooth decay around your filling.
- Avoid chewing tobacco or smoking for up to 12 hours. Tobacco can lower immunity and encourage infection.
- Ice compression can remedy jaw swelling. Since it is not in direct contact with the tooth filling, it will not trigger tooth sensitivity.
- If your gum hurts, rinsing with salt water can alleviate it. Bacteria thrive in an acidic environment. The presence of saltwater can raise the pH balance in your mouth, discouraging bacterial growth and lessening gum inflammation.
Other Dental Filling Concerns
We often have some common questions from patients who need a cavity filling. Here are some of them.
Can my Dentist do all my Fillings at Once?
It is possible, but we recommend only doing three fillings at a session. First, filling each tooth can take an average of 40 minutes. You will tire from having your mouth opened for a long time.
Second, the more cavity fillings you have simultaneously, the harder it will be for you to eat. While healing a filled tooth, you must avoid biting or chewing on it. Having more than three filled teeth can make that difficult for you. Here at Dr. Kest’s Southbury practice, we aim to make your experience as comfortable as possible.
Can Dental Filling be Done on the Front Teeth?
Can Dental Filling be Done on the Front Teeth?
Yes, the procedure is the same as filling a molar or the back teeth. Your dentist will use the composite filling as it has the same color as the teeth and is not as noticeable as other fillings.
Are Silver Fillings Safe?
Yes. Silver fillings or amalgams may expose the person to mercury in the form of mercury the longer it is used. However, the amount of mercury is not enough to harm the person. FDA also confirms that the level of exposure is safe.
FDA recommends the following people avoid dental amalgam:
- Pregnant and nursing women
- Children (especially those under six years old)
- People with an allergy to amalgam components
- People with kidney and/or neurological impairments
However, if you are considering replacing your worn silver fillings, you can discuss it with your dentist here in Dr. Kest’s Southbury practice.
What is the Average Cost of Dental Filling with and without Insurance?
The average tooth filling costs $150 to $1,100 without insurance as of 2023. Here are the factors that affect the cost of cavity fillings:
- The size of the cavity
- The location of the cavity
- The extent of decay
- The number of teeth needing fillings
- Filling to be used
- Additional costs include local anesthesia, X-ray examination, dental examination, etc.
Most dental plans cover 80% of the total cost of procedures, including dental filling.
Tooth fillings, especially composite and amalgam, are considered necessary. Therefore, they are partly or wholly covered, depending on the insurance plan or company. However, you must confirm if they only cover the filling or the total costs.
Here in our practice, we are happy to submit your claim to your dental insurance. We also offer financing options to our Southbury patients through CareCredit.
Southbury Dental Filling Service: Restore Your Teeth to Full Glory
A dental filling procedure restores and repairs teeth from decay and trauma. The filling fills cavities and stops tooth decay, pain, and sensitivity. Here at Dr. Kest’s Southbury practice, we ensure your tooth fillings are to your comfort and preference. We will be with you to manage and monitor your dental healing and aftercare for a safe and comfortable experience.
Schedule an appointment with us today to begin.
