knowledge for peace of mind
Permanent Tooth Fillings in Chandler
What is a Permanent Dental Filling and Why You might need One?
A dental filling is the process of removing a damaged area of your tooth placing a durable material in its place to restore the tooth’s shape, look, and function. We often associate fillings with cavities, but a filling may also be placed when a tooth is damaged to misuse, such as a cracked tooth or due to bruxism (tooth grinding).
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filling before & after
Dental Fillings: What You Should Expect Before, During, and After
Fillings are often necessary when you are experiencing decay or damage in one or several areas. When your dentist recommends a filling, there are a few things you can expect:
Before Your Filling Prior to your filling, your dentist will apply a local anesthetic to your teeth and gums. This anesthetic allows for your procedure to be pain-free and is likely to last a few hours after your procedure.
During Your Filling During your procedure, your dentist will remove the decayed or damaged parts of your tooth. You will not feel any pain during this removal, however you may feel some vibrations from the instruments. Once the damaged areas are successfully removed, your dentist will place the filling.
The process of placing a filling involves adding material that takes the place of the damaged areas to restore your tooth to its original shape. A filling can be a variety of shades, from white to off-white to grey-tinged, and in some cases, silver or gold. The most common modern fillings are as close to tooth-colored as possible. Once the filling is placed, a bonding light will be used to harden the material. Your dentist will then ensure that your bite is aligned correctly with the new filling. Any necessary adjustments will be made and your dentist will finish the procedure by polishing the tooth.
Post-Procedure: Caring For Your Teeth After a Filling After your filling, it is natural to feel some temporary sensitivity in the affected tooth. If your sensitivity does not subside, contact your dentist in Chandler right away.
To care for your filling, follow your dentist’s instructions on proper brushing, flossing, and regular dental checkups. Do your best to prevent more damage to your teeth going forward by avoiding sugary sports drinks, sodas, candy, and protecting your teeth during contact sports or with a night guard if you grind your teeth while you sleep.
- tooth sensitivity
- toothache
- bad breath
- pain while drinking or eating
- presence of holes in the tooth enamel that can become discolored
CHIPPED TOOTH
- tooth sensitivity
- toothache (notably when eating hard foods)
- headache
- noticeable differences in how the teeth come together during biting
REPLACING AN OLD FILLING
- tooth sensitivity
- toothache when eating or drinking
The Best Dentist for Permanent Tooth Fillings in Chandler
We care about the health and wellness of our Chandler, Arizona neighbors. At POM Dental, we specialize in gentle dentistry that not only restores your mouth, but your body and mind. We want your dental filling experience to be a positive one; we provide a relaxing environment and holistic care techniques that leave you feeling great about going to the dentist.
Distraction Methods – Therapeutic interventions – Pain management
what to expect during the process of having a tooth filled
At your visit
Preparation: To reduce any potential discomfort, a local anesthetic will be administered to numb the teeth and gums. Typically, the numbness will last a few hours.
Removal of Affected Tooth Structure: Once the area is numb, the tooth is cleaned of decay and damage with specialized dental instruments. It is common to feel some vibrations in the affected area during the procedure.
Placement of filling: Once the damaged tooth structure has been fully removed, the filling can be placed in the space to restore the tooth back to its original shape. The filling material varies in color and the dentist will match your tooth color for optimal esthetics. It’s important to control moisture during those process so cotton is often placed near the filling area. Adhesive is utilized to achieve a strong bond between the filling and tooth. Once the filling is in place and shaped accordingly, a bonding light will be used to activate the adhesive and harden the filling material.
Finishing & Polishing: Final adjustments are needed to refine and smooth the material. You will be asked to bite down several times on bite paper. This paper is similar to carbon paper and allows us to see which areas need to be adjusted to create a biting surface that is in harmony with the rest of the teeth. Finally, the filling is polished smooth.
preparing yourself for a dental filling
- Take note of any symptoms you have and when they occur. Do you feel something when eating or drinking? What about when laying down or exercising? Take note and let the dentist know during your evaluation.
- Prepare your schedule after the appointment accordingly, as your mouth will feel numb for a few hours after your appointment.
- Concerned about how a filling will look? Rest assured, the filling material varies in color and the dentist will work to provide a shade that matches your surrounding teeth.
- We encourage all of our patients to keep current with their dental cleaning/exams. We do not advise waiting for symptoms to develop before seeking care as this often represents a worsened oral health issue.
What is a Permanent Dental Filling and Why You MightNeed One?
If you ignore the need for a permanent dental filling, you may experience further damage and decay and put the integrity of the rest of your teeth at risk. An untreated filling may result in the need for more intensive care, such as a root canal, an extraction, or a crown.
It may take a few days for discomfort and sensitivity to go away after the procedure–particularly if you were suffering from pain before the treatment. Please contact the office if you have any concerns.
Find Out Why Chandler Residents Trust Pom Dental
We aren’t just your local dentist; we are your friends, neighbors, and community members. When we welcome you into our office, we welcome you into our family.
If you are in search of a dentist in Chandler to provide you with the best possible dental care and peace of mind, call our office today and schedule your appointment. For permanent tooth fillings in Chandler, you can trust POM Dental.
answering your questions about dental fillings…
Will people be able to see my filling?
How long will a filling last?
Will the fillings procedure be painful?
In addition to our topical anesthetic, we utilize a painless oral injection system, DentalVibe®, to reduce any discomfort during the numbing process. DentalVibe is a unique tool that can help alleviate dental fear and anxiety, allowing you to undergo the treatments needed to maintain a healthy mouth. DentalVibe provides gentle vibration to the site of the dental injection that overloads the nerve that sends pain signals to the brain so you don’t feel the injection. Most patients who have a DentalVibe injection aren’t even aware they’ve had an injection! The vibrations disperse the anesthesia once it’s injected to allow it to get to work even faster…plus the sound of the vibration creates an added distraction!
DentalVibe is especially helpful in reducing dental fear among children. Many adult patients feel they wouldn’t have developed dental fears if they had this tool when they were younger.
We also employ a whole host of patient comforts to create a soothing experience. Learn more here.
How long after a filling do I have to wait to eat and drink?
Tips & advice from Dr. Silverman:
Sugary sodas, energy drinks and sports drinks are great…
for causing cavities! These drinks provide the perfect storm for cavity-causing bacteria—a ton of sugar to feed the bacteria while releasing acid that creates holes in the teeth (cavities). To make matters worse, these drinks are extremely acidic and are like throwing gasoline on a cavity-causing fire! Sugar free versions of these drinks are still highly acidic and can also damage our enamel.