At Southview Dental Care, we have a strong focus on preventive dentistry to help you achieve the best oral health. However, there are times when your teeth are in need of restoration. When our teeth are affected by decay, or are damaged or knocked out as a result of an accident or trauma, there are a number of restorative dental treatments that can be used to help return your teeth to good health and to keep your smile looking great.
Dental fillings
Fillings are one of the most basic, yet most effective methods of restoring your teeth. As their name suggests, dental fillings are used to fill in a hole in the tooth that has been caused by decay. By filling in such a hole, we can help to prevent further damage to the tooth, allowing you to keep it for many years to come.
Due to the advancement of modern procedures, having a filling is now practically pain free. We numb the area around the tooth using local anaesthetic and clean out decayed material from the tooth. We can then place the composite filling material into the hole, building it up in layers. To set the filling in place, we use a special light that speeds up the process.
Following treatment, it’s advisable to:
- Avoid hot food and drinks for a few hours – the main reason for this is that as it will take time for the local anaesthetic to wear off, you risk burning your mouth without realising.
- Brush your teeth regularly – you should always brush your teeth at least twice a day, taking care to clean around the gum line and between each of your teeth. This will help you to avoid future problems with decay.
- Cut down on the amount of sugar you consume – by looking to reduce the amount of sugary food you eat, this will play a big part in reducing the risks of further tooth decay.
The types of filling
There are two types of filling that are most commonly used today:
- Amalgam – these are the more traditional silver-grey coloured fillings.
- Tooth-coloured fillings – these are much more popular as they are much more discreet. As they are the same colour as your natural teeth, only your dentist need know you have them.
Modern tooth-coloured fillings are strong, hard-wearing and long lasting. Unsurprisingly, one of the most popular benefits of tooth-coloured fillings is that they can be blended to provide a great match for your natural teeth.
Whilst we advise against replacing amalgam fillings for new tooth-coloured fillings when it is just for aesthetic reasons, if an old filling is cracked or there is more tooth decay, it’s worth replacing it with a new white filling.
If your teeth are affected by decay and you are in need of restorative dentistry to help prevent further deterioration, call us today on 01732 865021 to book an appointment at a convenient time for you.
