When your teeth develop cavities, decay, or other infections, they can attract severe infections and other dental complications, resulting in dental problems for you. You can remedy the infection, cavities, or tooth decay by having dental fillings fixed to seal the sensitive inner parts of your teeth. Dental fillings are an easy and non-invasive way to introduce restorative treatment for holes in the teeth, and they prevent you from dealing with additional problems.
It is advisable to consult a trusted dentist about whether dental fillings are a suitable treatment option for you, as they understand how to install dental fillings for the most effective remedy. An experienced dentist is also ready to provide customized treatment when needed to help you receive effective treatment, especially if you are dealing with severe tooth decay.
At Tayani Dental Group, you work with reliable dentists with years of experience who are well-equipped to undertake a dental filling installation procedure. You can also count on the team to provide helpful guidelines on the pretreatment steps to promote a smooth treatment process. With our help, you can expect to regain full dental function. Our services are available for patients seeking dental filling treatment in Fullerton, California.
Understanding What Dental Fillings Are
When your enamel begins to wither away, it may be a sign of dental cavities or decay. You are likely to see more severe erosion with delayed treatment, which often leaves large holes around the enamel. The effects arise after bacteria release harmful chemicals that erode your tooth surface and accelerate depreciation.
Upon noticing a hole in your tooth surface, you must consult a dentist for a professional examination and treatment options. Dental fillings are among the possible solutions based on their ease of installation and effectiveness. A filling is made of composite or metallic material, and your dentist shapes it to fill a hole in your tooth created after decay.
Once the filling occupies the space, it prevents bacteria from returning to the previously exposed tooth surface and thus prevents further decay. The filling also prevents other particles from settling in the exposed hole, helping you to begin your recovery from tooth decay or cavities.
Upon installation, a dental filling can remain effective for seven to ten years, depending on your ability to maintain it well. You also receive instructions on managing the fillings to avoid exposing them to elements that cause their depreciation.
Patients Eligible for Dental Filling Treatment
Upon suffering a dental injury, infection, or any other complication, you may wonder whether you are eligible to have dental fillings fitted. While conducting personal research to understand your condition is advisable, your dentist may provide additional information for your consideration.
Therefore, consulting your dental team is advisable, as they provide workable solutions by incorporating fillings as part of your treatment. Based on their advice, you may be eligible for fillings if you experience any of the following:
Dental Cavities
Cavities often arise due to bacterial growth that spreads from the tooth surface into the enamel and dentine. As discussed, the bacteria release toxic chemicals as waste after consuming sugar and other food particles between your teeth.
With continuous exposure to the toxic waste, the tooth forms holes, indicating depreciation and compromised dental health. Without prompt treatment, cavities expand and continue to affect the tooth. You may notice growing holes and tooth discoloration as your condition worsens, so consult your dentist as soon as possible.
You may notice faster dental health deterioration if you suffer from cavities and other conditions like gum disease. The situation arises because your health is already compromised, making it easier for the bacteria to spread and cause further damage to the tooth. Faster tooth damage may lead to the early onset of tooth decay, which manifests as an advanced cavity.
Tooth Decay
Tooth decay is an advanced cavity that spreads over a larger surface area after staying long without treating the initial cavity. Many patients experiencing tooth decay will notice symptoms of severe bacterial infection and corrosion on the tooth surface, like tooth discoloration.
Additionally, you may experience large holes on the tooth surface, exposing the inner parts to external temperatures and food particles. The exposure results in constant pain as your nerves are in contact with multiple elements that should not typically reach them.
Dental fillings are an effective treatment for tooth decay because they close the open tooth, preventing further exposure to bacterial spread and stuck food particles. You will also enjoy better tooth use as the fillings replace the disintegrated tooth surface, allowing you to chew normally.
Uneven Teeth Arrangement
Dental fillings are also effective in remedying uneven tooth arrangement, mainly if your dental structure consists of varying heights on your teeth. Your dentist may recommend fillings to level the size of molars and premolars that failed to fully grow out of the gums.
You can chew better by leveling the tooth surfaces, and your teeth remain in a suitable resting position when your mouth is closed. Proper tooth positioning is important because it prevents additional misalignment conditions that may warrant orthodontic treatment. Based on this, dental fillings are a preventative measure as you assess whether you need further treatment to remedy the uneven tooth arrangement.
Chipped Teeth
Chipped teeth may result from injury, especially when playing high-impact sports. You may also experience the condition if you have a calcium deficiency, as your teeth are more vulnerable to breakage and damage.
When you lose a significant chunk of your tooth to chipping, a dental filling can fill the gap and help you regain full tooth function. The dentist will design your filling based on the missing tooth chunk, and you can expect them to help restore your natural look.
Pre-Treatment Procedures to Prepare You for Dental Fillings
Placing dental fillings requires your dentist to do enough research on your condition and have a clear picture of your dental structure. You can, therefore, expect them to take you through several pre-treatment procedures to help them access the information necessary for effective treatment. The following are standard pre-treatment procedures you can expect to undergo:
A Physical Examination
Your dentist’s starting point is conducting a physical examination that requires them to check for physical manifestations of your condition. For example, if you have tooth decay, your dentist checks for the severity of the decay and whether the holes have exposed sensitive tooth components.
Physical examinations are also essential when the dentist intends to uncover additional conditions, as many symptoms manifest physically. For example, many dental situations arise from unhealthy gums, which your dentist can spot within a few minutes of the examination. Based on this, they can recommend a suitable treatment option to supplement the dental fillings and create a lasting solution.
Taking X-Ray Images
X-ray images are beneficial for an inside look at your dental structure, and they supplement the physical examination your dentist takes. The X-ray images can help identify whether your jawbone is affected by bacterial spread and whether you have impacted teeth that could cause future dental complications.
3-D images are also increasingly relevant in developing a treatment plan for patients, as they create an accurate replica of your dental structure in a digital format. The dental team can use the image for further assessment even after you leave the clinic, making it possible to develop accurate treatment plans in the shortest time possible.
Providing Your Medical History
Every patient’s medical history is critical to developing a suitable treatment plan, as the information reveals your needs. During the first consultation meeting, your dentist requests your medical history to determine how many previous dental procedures you have received and whether you have underlying conditions.
Revealing relevant information about the current treatment you may be receiving is also beneficial, especially if you are on medication. The details are significant because they help explain why you are dealing with a dental condition. For example, powerful drugs to manage terminal diseases may result in side effects like loose teeth. Once your dentist understands this, they will work better towards helping you eradicate the condition as a long-term solution.
Your allergy information is also relevant at this stage, and you need to inform your dental team if you have had previous reactions to dental anesthesia. Your sensitivity to metals or composite materials is also relevant, as dental fillings involve using one or both components.
Providing a comprehensive medical history increases your chances of receiving better treatment tailored to your specific needs. Since your dentist maintains confidentiality obligations with their patients, you can reveal all details you think could be relevant to your case, which helps create a better treatment plan. I am running a few minutes late; my previous meeting is over.
Medical Attention to Urgent Issues
Some patients may have serious dental complications requiring emergency treatment before receiving dental fillings. Others may require pre-treatment procedures to ensure the dental fillings fit correctly on the tooth surface. For example, if you suffer tooth loss, the dentist must re-engage the tooth on the jawbone surface and secure it before placing a dental filling.
What to Expect During the Dental Filling Procedure
When your dentist clears you for the dental filling procedure, you will enter the procedure room and begin preparations with the dental assistant. They provide protective eyewear and a layer to prevent your clothes from staining as the dentist uses different components throughout the procedure.
While not all patients may need it, you receive an anesthesia shot on the area to be worked on to stop you from feeling sharp pains, which could interrupt the treatment process. The anesthesia is essential because the subsequent cleaning process requires the dentist to scrape and poke inside the tooth surface, which could irritate the nerves.
During cleaning, the dentist must remove all decayed tooth parts to prevent future bacterial spread, as the microorganisms often hide in the disintegrated tooth surfaces. Additionally, they remove plaque and other stuck food particles from surrounding teeth as a preventative measure, as the process eradicates all hidden bacteria.
Sometimes, cleaning may also involve removing particles and plaque from tooth pockets. Since the process requires the dentist to poke into the gums, you may need anesthesia on all affected teeth to manage pain. The dental team may apply the anesthesia throughout or on each surface they are working on.
Your dentist introduces the dental filling after all teeth are cleaned and the open tooth pocket is clear. Many fillings are made of metallic components, but you may also benefit from new designs made of strong composite material. The dentist will have formulated the exact filling shape necessary to fill the tooth hole without creating uncomfortable pressure, so they will slip it into the tooth within a few seconds.
Fitting the dental filling also requires your dentist to test whether its new position corresponds to the designs and dental impressions taken. Upon verifying that the filling works well, the dentist cements it to remain in the desired position permanently.
The dental cement should be strong enough to support regular tooth functions, including chewing hard foods. Your dentist will, therefore, strengthen the cement and harden it using UV light. If more than one tooth requires dental fillings, the dentist repeats this step, marking the end of the dental filling procedure.
Aftercare Tips to Observe
When your dentist completes the installation process, they provide aftercare tips to help you keep the dental fillings in good condition. By following their advice, you increase your chances of enjoying the longest possible fillings to remain on the tooth surface, up to ten years.
The following are essential aftercare tips to observe after having dental fillings installed:
Avoid Hard Foods for a Few Days
Although dental fillings help restore normal tooth function, you should avoid eating hard foods for a few days to avoid placing unnecessary stress on the surface. Letting the tooth rest for a few days is especially important because it allows the cement to bond to the natural tooth surface for more substantial support.
Upon experiencing pain or discomfort from biting hard foods, consider visiting your dentist as soon as possible. The pain may arise due to a broken filling that digs into your nerves and dentine area. If so, you need an emergency procedure to remove it and replace the filling.
Avoid Sugary Foods
Taking foods and beverages with high sugar content exposes your teeth to possible re-infections, as bacteria thrive on the sugar particles. With a continuous intake of sugary foods, you may suffer cavities and tooth decay on a different tooth, creating a new need for dental fillings or further treatment. Dental fillings do not directly prevent bacterial spread; they only fill up the hole created by earlier infections.
Maintain a Consistent Brushing Routine
Cleaning your teeth regularly is highly advisable, especially after fitting dental implants on the tooth surface. Cleaning your teeth at least twice a day prevents bacterial spread and reduces the chances of new cavities and decay developing. Cleaning your teeth also requires flossing to reach the inner tooth corners that your brush may fail to access.
When brushing and flossing, pay attention to the pressure you apply on each tooth, mainly because you are still adjusting to the new filling. Brushing too hard can increase your chances of dislodging the filling, as the cement does not have sufficient time to bond.
Attend Follow-up Appointments
Your dentist needs to review your progress after fitting the dental fillings so that they can call you for a few follow-up appointments. Attending the sessions is essential because it allows the dentist to identify and address possible problems.
Alternatively, the appointment can help affirm the treatment, indicating that you are on the right track toward regaining full function. You also receive additional tips on how to improve your oral health and avoid the need for dental fillings in the future.
Find a General Fullerton Dentist Near Me
Suffering from cavities or tooth decay can interrupt your everyday well-being, resulting in persistent discomfort and pain. You are also at a higher risk of infection if your holes remain untreated, as bacteria can enter the sensitive tooth parts. Dental fillings are an excellent option for combating tooth complications, as they fill up the open space and prevent bacterial access. You also receive tooth support to protect it from breaking upon chewing or biting. Since dental fillings should last you for a while, you need to work with a skilled dentist to ensure they provide reliable treatment services.
At Tayani Dental Group, we provide excellent dental services, including filling affected teeth. Our team has worked on hundreds of patients, enabling them to regain a healthy dental structure using fillings to prevent infections. With our help, you can expect to undergo a smooth installation procedure that promotes proper dental recovery. The team can also answer any treatment-related questions for your knowledge and reassurance. If you or a loved one requires dental filling treatment in Fullerton, California, call us today at 949-741-0795.
