Table of contents
What Are Dental Fillings?
We recommend fillings to repair teeth that have suffered some form of damage. The damage may be due to trauma or decay. Typical situations where you may need a filling include repairing a minor crack or chip in a tooth or filling in a cavity caused by tooth decay.
Signs You May Need a Filling
Signs that you may have a damaged or decayed tooth include:
- Toothache.
- Sensitivity to hot and cold or sweet and sour foods.
- Visible damage to a tooth, such as a hole, dark spot, or pit.
- A rough or broken edge on a tooth.
- A spot where food frequently becomes impacted.
Types of Dental Fillings
A tooth filling can be direct or indirect.
Direct Fillings
Direct fillings are made chair-side and are placed directly into the tooth. These fillings would only require a single dental appointment.
- Amalgam fillings. An amalgam cavity filling is made from a mixture of metals, including tin, copper, zinc, and mercury, and is silver-colored.
- Composite resin fillings. These fillings are the most popular when mending small to medium-sized cavities, as they use tooth-colored composite resin to create a virtually invisible restoration.
- Glass ionomer fillings. These fillings are also tooth-colored but are used to fill in areas of decay around a tooth’s root. They are more delicate than amalgam and composite resin, and can contain fluoride that is gradually released, helping to fight further decay.
The Dental Filling Procedure Step-By-Step for Direct Fillings
Step One: Dental Exam & Dental X-Rays
An initial dental exam is required to assess the damage to a tooth and to determine if a filling is a suitable restorative dental treatment. Dental X-rays are often necessary to assess the damage more closely, especially in areas that may be hidden from view, such as between teeth, where decay can often develop.
During this appointment, we can provide a custom treatment plan, detailing the type of restoration best suited to repair your tooth and the anticipated costs.
Step Two: Tooth Preparation
A dental filling is entirely painless, as a local anaesthetic will numb the tooth before we prepare it for the filling. Once the cavity is prepared, it is thoroughly cleaned and is ready for the application of the filling material.
Step Three: Placing and Finishing the Filling Material
The filling material is inserted into the cavity. It can be hardened with a special light that helps cure it and ensure it bonds strongly to your tooth.
After all the filling material is in place, our dentist will carefully shape it, contouring it so it looks natural and will not interfere with your bite.
Indirect Fillings
Indirect fillings are made outside the mouth, either on-site using CAD/CAM design and our milling machine, or in a dental laboratory.
If you have an indirect filling that can be made on-site, we may be able to prepare the tooth and fit it on the same day, so you would not need a second appointment.
Types of indirect dental fillings can include:
- Porcelain fillings. A porcelain filling, also known as an inlay or onlay, is created from a solid block of porcelain that is milled into shape using a digital scan of your tooth. These fillings are extremely beautiful and hard-wearing.
- Gold fillings. Gold fillings are also called inlays and onlays, and must be made in a dental lab using a digital impression of your tooth. The gold alloy is highly polished, extremely durable, and long-lasting.
The Dental Filling Procedure Step-By-Step for Indirect Fillings
Step One: Dental Exam & Dental X-Rays
This part of the process is identical to that for a direct restoration. We must assess your tooth to determine if an indirect filling is the most suitable option.
We will likely recommend this type of restoration when you have a larger cavity, such as in the chewing surface of a back tooth. Indirect filling materials are much stronger than amalgam and composite resin.
Step Two: Tooth Preparation
Your tooth is prepared in the same way as for a direct filling, using local anesthetic to ensure you feel comfortable. Once the cavity is ready, it is thoroughly disinfected.
Step Three: Digital Dental Impression
We take a digital dental impression of the tooth using a small handheld scanner. The impression is quick and extremely accurate, and can be immediately checked on screen in our treatment rooms.
Step Four: Fabricating Your New Inlay or Onlay
Porcelain Fillings
If you have a porcelain filling, we can likely make it while you wait. You will not need a temporary filling or a second visit.
Our dentist will design the filling, transmit the design to our on-site milling machine, where it will be milled from a solid block of pre-shaded porcelain. The restoration will be hand-finished and ready to fit soon afterward.
Gold Fillings
If you have chosen a gold filling, we will place a temporary filling in your tooth that you will use until your gold filling is ready.
We must send the digital scan to our dental lab, where they will create your new gold filling to our exact prescription. It may take up to two weeks for your gold filling to be made.
When it is ready, you return to our dental office, where we will remove the temporary filling, insert your new gold filling, and bond it permanently in place.
Benefits of Dental Fillings
Benefits can include the following.
- When a tooth is repaired with a dental filling, it helps protect and preserve it.
- The treatment removes any signs of infection and decay, so afterwards the tooth feels comfortable and is pain-free.
- Your ability to chew comfortably is restored.
- A dental restoration looks good, especially if you have a composite resin filling or a porcelain filling, as both are virtually invisible.
- Dental fillings are long-lasting with the right aftercare.
Choosing the Right Filling Material
Generally, it is easy to decide on the right filling material. However, some factors to consider include:
- The location of the cavity, if you need a front tooth filling, you will almost certainly need a tooth colored restoration.
- The size of the cavity, as larger fillings will likely need an inlay or onlay.
- Durability and longevity, as indirect fillings made from porcelain and gold will last longer. However, these are more expensive.
Longevity of Fillings
Amalgam Fillings
An amalgam filling can last ten years or more before it needs to be replaced, but the amalgam can darken and start to look unsightly. These fillings are used far less frequently due to the introduction of other materials that are more cosmetically pleasing and that work harmoniously with natural teeth.
Composite Resin Fillings
Composite resin fillings can last 5 to 7 years or longer. They can discolor gradually, especially if you smoke or drink a lot of tea, coffee, or consume a lot of highly colored foods that can stain the resin.
Glass Ionomer Fillings
A glass ionomer filling can last five years and is relatively fragile. This is why these fillings are only used to mend tooth root cavities, as they are not strong enough to withstand substantial biting and chewing forces.
Porcelain Fillings
A porcelain filling is extremely hard-wearing and can last 20 years or longer. Although they are more expensive to fit initially, they can be a great investment in oral health, especially as they can look beautiful.
Gold Fillings
Gold fillings last a similar length of time to a porcelain filling. They are very strong, yet the gold alloy is soft enough to prevent damage to the opposing teeth.
Caring for Your Dental Fillings
Looking after a cavity filling is extremely simple.
- You can brush and floss them like natural teeth.
- If you have composite resin fillings, you may wish to avoid foods that could stain them.
- Avoid habits that could damage your fillings, such as biting on ice cubes, biting your nails, or chewing on pens and pencils.
- Regular dental checkups are important, as we must monitor the condition of your fillings to check they are not leaking or damaged. Gold fillings will need replacing eventually.
FAQs
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Will Dental Insurance Cover Dental Fillings?
Yes, as this is a restorative dental treatment. Repairing a damaged or decayed tooth helps restore it, preserving and protecting it.
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Will a Dental Filling Hurt?
Dental anesthesia ensures this treatment will not feel painful. It’s not unusual to find the tooth feels slightly sensitive afterward, but these sensations should disappear after a few days.
If you notice the tooth feels uncomfortable or painful, then please get in touch with us. Sometimes a filling is slightly too high and needs adjusting to ensure you can bite comfortably.
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Can I Replace My Old Amalgam Fillings?
Yes, and we can discuss this with you during your visit to the NYC Dentistry Center. We can safely remove your amalgam fillings using a high-filtration system and ensure the amalgam is disposed of safely afterward, before replacing it with a more modern material.
NYC Dentistry Center6 E 45th St #801
New York, NY 10017
(45th St. btw 5th Ave / Madison Ave)
(212) 518-6096