Dental fillings are used to restore your teeth by using a single or combination of plastics, metals, glass, or other materials. As the name suggests, dental fillings fill the area of your tooth that the dentist has removed because of cavity or decay. Apart from this, fillings are also used to repair a cracked or broken tooth.

How are Dental Fillings Performed?

Here’s how our dentist performs dental fillings:

The process starts with numbing the area around your tooth with a local anesthetic. Next, an air abrasion instrument, a laser, or a scaling instrument will be used to remove the decayed area. Our dentists decide the type of instrument to use after reviewing the location of your tooth and the severity of the decay.

During the process, we will also test the area to find out if the decay has been removed properly or not. Once done, we will prepare a space for the filling by cleaning the cavity of bacteria and debris.

A tooth-colored material is now applied in layers, after which we will use a special light to harden the layer so applied. After the process of multilayering, our dentists will shape the composite material as desired. Lastly, the final restoration is polished.

What are the Various Types of Dental Fillings?

As stated, fillings can be of various types of materials. Here are the most popular ones:

  • Amalgam FillingsThey are a combination of silver, mercury, copper, or tin. Many people opt for this material as it is more durable and affordable than others. However, it leaves a displeasing appearance on your smile.
  • Tooth-Colored FillingsTooth-colored fillings are also known as composites. They are a mixture of glass or quartz particles and acrylic resin. These fillings are durable and provide excellent sealing properties.
  • Gold FillingsGold fillings are made using gold, copper, and other metals. Although they are very durable, they are slightly more expensive due to the material used. They are made in the lab after our dentists take an impression of your tooth. The drawback of these fillings is that they do not appear natural, which is why they are reserved for the rear teeth.
  • Porcelain Fillings:Porcelain fillings give you a more natural appearance as they can be customized as required to mimic the appearance of the enamel. They are also fabricated in the lab after taking an impression of your tooth and cavity.
  • Glass Ionomer FillingsThese fillings appear natural but aren’t as strong as composites. Glass ionomer fillings are made using a type of glass containing fluoride and acrylic. The content of fluoride helps to keep cavities at bay. These fillings are majorly used in treating children’s teeth.

Please reach out to Stockton Creative Dental in Stockton, CA, to have a consultation with our dentist, Dr. Rassiwala. Please call us at (209) 466-5000 or schedule an online consultation, and we’ll guide you further.