Knowing what will happen if you need a dental filling in Newcastle can help set your mind at ease. Dental fillings are straightforward, minimally invasive, and a great restorative treatment. There is nothing to fear.
We realize many people feel anxious or nervous when seeing us, and we take every opportunity to ensure that patients feel relaxed and comfortable. However, if you have a cavity or a filling that has crumbled, it’s important to have the tooth restored. Leaving it untreated will allow the problem to worsen, and you could end up with an unpleasant toothache in Clarington.
High-Quality Filling Materials That Complement Your Dental Health
West Bowmanville Family Dental uses the highest quality filling materials designed to work harmoniously with your dental health. These are metal-free, so once in your mouth, they are virtually invisible.
Your filling could be made from tooth-coloured composite resin or strong, durable porcelain. If you currently have failing amalgam fillings, we can remove them safely and dispose of the amalgam correctly, replacing them with composite or porcelain.
Your oral health is unique, but below are the steps you can expect during this process.
Initial Exam
We will need to determine if you need a filling by examining the tooth. A digital dental X-ray can help confirm tooth decay and how far it’s penetrated your tooth.
Once we have completed our exam, we will discuss which type of filling material we think will suit your needs and the anticipated costs.
Placing Your Filling
There is no need to worry that your filling will be painful. We use a local anesthetic to ensure you cannot feel a thing. Our dentist will check regularly to ensure you feel comfortable during your procedure. You can always take a break by raising your hand to alert us.
Once your tooth is numb, all the decayed tooth structure or old filling material is removed, and the cavity is carefully shaped.
At this point, the procedure can differ depending on whether you need a composite resin or porcelain filling.
Composite Resin Fillings
Composite resin fillings are direct fillings, meaning we can place them while you are in the dental chair. The material is placed inside the cavity in small increments and hardened using blue light. We will shape and polish the filling and ensure your bite is comfortable, completing your treatment.
Porcelain Fillings
A porcelain filling is called an inlay or onlay and is an indirect filling, meaning it is made outside your mouth. Once the cavity is prepared, we take a digital dental impression.
If you have unpleasant memories of goopy tray impressions, please don’t worry; a digital impression is completely different. It is quick and non-invasive as we scan your teeth with a small handheld camera. It takes thousands of images that are digitally stitched together to create a 3-D digital model of your mouth.
Digital dental impressions in Courtice are much more accurate. They are perfect for anyone with a strong gag reflex or who has difficulty sitting still while a traditional tray impression sets in the mouth.
Your digital impression is used to handcraft your porcelain filling. Once ready, you return to our dental office so your beautiful porcelain filling can be tried in and permanently bonded into your tooth.
Caring for Your New Filling
You don’t need to do anything out of the ordinary to look after your new filling, as you can brush and floss around it normally. Good oral care will help prolong its life, and we will check its condition during every dental exam to ensure it is still protecting your tooth.
