Traditional dental fillings were made of metal, which often contained mercury. They also were less-efficient and may be failing now after years. At Annapolis Smiles, Dr. Scott Finlay offers modern fillings that are metal-free and safe for your smile. Learn more about getting modern fillings at your Annapolis family dentist.
When Do I Need a Dental Filling?
Dental fillings are one of the most common procedures performed at our Annapolis family dentist office. You usually think of fillings when you have a cavity, but that isn’t their only use. Fillings can also be used to fix a crack in your tooth and other small issues. Typically, though, fillings are used to give you back normal functionality in a decayed tooth and to prevent further decay from happening.
Types of Fillings
Annapolis Smiles uses multiple materials for dental fillings that are superior to the traditional metal. Composite resin fillings are also commonly called white fillings. These are customized fillings that are ideal for replacing your aging metal or dark fillings. The material is designed to blend in with the color of your natural teeth.
Porcelain fillings are also called inlays and onlays. These are used for more severe cases of tooth decay. They’re customized to match the color of your teeth exactly. Inlays and onlays are used when there’s a large amount of tooth decay on a flat surface, or tooth decay in hard to reach areas like the crevices on top of molars. They’re a conservative restoration that’s less severe than something like a dental crown.
The Cosmetic Filling Process
After we determine you need a filling, we’ll numb the area around the affected tooth. We want to make sure you’re as comfortable as possible. If your tooth is infected or weakened, those parts will be removed to make sure they don’t harm the rest of your tooth. The area is then fully cleaned to sterilize the tooth and make sure none of the infected material is left.
Your filling material will be one of the multiple options available at our office. To determine which option is best, we take into consideration the location of the tooth, the area that was infected, your budget, and the desired appearance. For teeth that are in what we call the smile zone, we want to make sure we have a durable option that blends in seamlessly with your smile.
The filling material is designed to restore the tooth to its full functionality and to make sure there are no cracks where bacteria could enter. The material is carefully sculpted to blend in with the curvature of your natural tooth. It’s then permanently bonded into place to give you a durable solution for years to come.
In some cases, further treatment options are needed in addition to a filling. If the tooth is severely decayed, root canal therapy may be suggested. A dental crown may also be recommended if the dentist believes it’s needed to ensure that the tooth is still fully functional. We take great care to determine the best solution for each individual patient.
Getting Modern Dental Fillings at Your Annapolis Family Dentist
Do you have old metal fillings that you want to replace? Having toothaches and other problems that you think may need further attention? Call us today or schedule an appointment online.