Dental fillings are a treatment used to remove tooth decay and keep your teeth healthy.
How are they done?
When the dentist finds a cavity, the filling process begins, and it is fairly straightforward. It doesn’t usually take long either: normally less than an hour, although it depends on the type of filling you need.
A dental filling is done in 4 steps:
- Anaesthetic. This is essential so that you don’t feel any pain during the procedure. Once the anaesthetic is given, the area is completely numb.
- Removing the decay. The dentist uses the necessary instruments to remove the decay, which leaves a cavity in the tooth, and then cleans it so that no debris remains.
- Filling the cavity. A specific material is used to fill the cavity left by the previous step. The key is to respect the shape and colour of the tooth when placing the material.
- Polishing. Once the material has hardened, the filling is shaped and polished so that it fits your bite properly and doesn’t cause any discomfort.
Types of dental fillings
- Simple. These are used when the decay is small and very little tooth tissue needs to be removed. For example, fillings in the central grooves of a molar.
- Compound fillings or reconstructions. In these, more of the tooth has to be removed, leaving larger cavities to fill. They usually affect the walls of the tooth too, so the restoration is more complex (find out more about types of dental reconstruction and how to care for them).
Types of materials
Filling materials fall into two groups:
- Resin or composite. This is the most common material. It matches the colour of your teeth perfectly, so it is considered the best aesthetic option. However, it is less durable than metal fillings because it wears down. It lasts around 10 years.
- Metal or amalgam. This type is hardly used nowadays, although it used to be the most common. It doesn’t look good because of its greyish colour, but it lasts around 30 years.
Aftercare tips
- Try not to bite your tongue or any other part of your mouth while the anaesthetic wears off, which takes about 3 hours.
- After the procedure, don’t eat or drink anything for two hours to avoid damaging the filling.
- Don’t smoke. This is always good advice for your health, but after a filling it is especially recommended to avoid smoking for a while to prevent staining.
- You may notice some tooth sensitivity in the area for a while after the filling, even for up to a month. If it lasts longer, see your dentist to make sure the filling is working properly.
The sooner tooth decay is treated, the simpler the filling will be; if it reaches the nerve, a root canal treatment may be needed. If you have any discomfort or it has been a while since your last check-up, book your appointment at Clínica Dental Acosta Cubero.
