White Fillings
When you think of dental problems, you probably think of cavities. A cavity is a hole in your tooth created by plaque that has built up begun eating away at the enamel. Once this “decay” gets big enough it will cavitate (that’s the technical dental term for collapse), which is why they’re called cavities. A filling fixes the problem by removing the decay and filling the cavity with material so that bacteria can’t reach the site and continue eating away at the tooth.
Nobody wants to have a filling, but a cavity left unchecked will continue eating away at your tooth until you need a root canal, or even worse have to lose the tooth entirely.
At Park Slope Dentistry Seventh Avenue, Dr. Angelique Freking and associates will treat your cavity with the most modern and natural looking fillings and return your tooth’s functionality and aesthetics to their original form.
Dental Fillings Q&A
Why are fillings needed?
A ‘cavity’ is essentially tooth damage caused by bacteria. Once a cavity has started, no amount of regular brushing or flossing will stop the bacteria from making the cavity worse. A common misconception is that cavities are painful, but unfortunately this isn’t always true. Sometimes patients will have cavities so large that the tooth must be extracted, and yet they tell us “it never hurt!”. So even if a cavity is not currently hurting you, if left untreated it will continue to grow and eventually cause you more severe dental issues that a simple filling.
A filling removes the tooth decay caused by the bacteria, and fills the hole with material so that the bacteria cannot continue eating away your tooth structure.
What color are the fillings?
Tooth colored! Gone are the days when fillings had to be unsightly metal. At Park Slope Dentistry Seventh Avenue, we use modern restorative dental techniques to make sure that when you smile or laugh big, everyone will just see natural looking teeth.
If I have metal fillings, can I replace them with tooth colored fillings?
You sure can. If you’re unhappy with your old metal fillings, we can remove them and replace them with natural-looking tooth colored fillings. However, in some circumstances this isn’t always in your best interest, as it can trigger other issues. Thus, it’s best to let us examine your old fillings first to make sure we are making the best decision for your oral health.
How long does a filling appointment take?
It depends on where the cavity is and how many you have, but in general you can expect a single filling appointment to take anywhere around 40 minutes.
How long does it take to heal after receiving a filling?
Obviously everyone is a little different, but it’s not uncommon for people to feel achiness or soreness a few days after their treatment. This is typically mild and easily soothed by over-the-counter medications like Advil or Tylenol. Often people report they felt nothing the next day. Occasionally, some people experience other mild issues. If you do, you can always call us or come in for a complimentary follow up visit.
Do fillings need special care?
Fillings just need the same care that the rest of your teeth need. Brush them twice a day and floss regularly to get the longest-lasting results.