Teeth Fillings: Understand the basics before deciding to go for it
Teeth Fillings
Teeth Fillings is one of those modern dental procedure which cures and in a way rebuilds your otherwise damaged teeth.
Teeth Fillingss also replace the unattractive metallic fillings. The best part or advantage of tooth colored fillings is that they have the same appearance as your natural teeth. Patients at times feel embarrassed when the metallic filling is seen however with these kind of fillings patients can be relaxed. The damage that we cause to our teeth can be repaired only by such dental procedures. Your dentist will be the best one to tell you whether it needs to be done or not.
Furthermore your dentist will check for a few things which can tell him/her that you are suffering from tooth decay leading to damaged teeth. These steps include:
- Observation: Includes checking of every teeth and repairing the damaged ones.
- Cavity detecting dye: You will have to rinse it. The dye will get stuck on damaged teeth and pass through the healthier ones.
- X-rays: Have been always beneficial as they give a clear view of cavities.
- Laser fluorescence cavity detection aids: These are magic wands!! Well don’t get confused. They help in measuring changes caused by caries.
Teeth Fillings required only for decay?
If you are a strong believer in it then correct yourself. You may need Teeth Fillings if you have:
- Cracked or broken teeth
- Teeth which have been worn out because of nail biting
- Teeth which have been worn out because of tooth grinding
- If you use your tooth for opening bottle caps then surely you will have to undergo Teeth Fillings
Steps carried out in Teeth Fillings
The first and foremost step to carry out this procedure is consultation. In fact this is the important step for every dental treatment. Your dentist will make sure that he speaks with you related to your past illness and medical history. Once he/she understands your requirement and reason for tooth cavity and if they are convinced that you can undergo this procedure then they will move to second step. The second step involves use of local anesthesia.
This will numb the area where the Teeth Fillings has to be applied. Once this is done your dentist will use a drill to remove the decay or he/she might even use laser.
The drill has burs which cuts through the enamel and removes the decay. To start off with your dentist will use a high speed drill until he reaches the enamel to remove the unsupported part of the tooth. When he reaches dentin he will use a low speed drill. The only reason is that dentin is softer than enamel.
Once the decay is removed your dentist will move to the next step – shaping the space so that filling can be added. Which filling he/she will use will depend on the health of your teeth. Different fillings have different procedures for to shape up.
In an attempt to protect the pulp your dentist will add a base or a liner. These will be made out of composite resin, glass ionomer, zinc oxide and eugenol, or another material.
Some of these materials release fluoride which is the best solution to protect the tooth from further decay.
The process of etching and the end of Teeth Fillings procedure
If your dentist is placing a bonded filling, he or she will prepare the tooth with an acid gel before placing the filling. Etching makes tiny holes in the tooth’s enamel surface. The composite material fills in the holes as the dentist places the filling. A bonding material also is used, so the filling helps in bonding the tooth in two ways. Bonded fillings helps in reducing the risk of leakage or decay under the filling. Composite fillings are generally used for the bonding purpose.
A lot of fillings get hardened by a special light. With these fillings, your dentist will layer the material, stopping several times to shine a bright light on the resin. This makes the material hard and strong.
Finally, after the filling is placed, your dentist will use burs to finish and polish the tooth.
Situations after the procedure
Depending from person to another the after effects may vary but be assured nothing threatening. You might suffer from a little bit of sensitivity but it does not last long. Right after the aesthetic wears off you will experience pain because of the filling being too high. Consult your dentist immediately.
Second of all you will also experience discomfort like a sharp shock which happens when your teeth get in touch with each other. Such kind of shocks are called as galvanic shock.
Any such kind of feeling after the procedure should be immediately reported to your dentist so that he can perform procedure which will end the sensitiveness.
Expectations from you
Make sure you visit your dentist for cleaning, brush with fluoride based toothpaste and floss at least once a day. In simple words just take good care of them.
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