Tooth fillings (also called restorations) are a treatment for cavities and chipped teeth. If you feel like you have a cavity, it’s a good idea to make a dental appointment to have your teeth checked and discuss your options.
The words “cavity” refers to tooth decay. You get cavities when harmful bacteria make an acid that decays the tooth structure. Cavities might show up as a dark spot or a bright white spot, but not always. A cavity might create a hole in a tooth, but not always. When cavities are hidden between the teeth, we can only see them on x-rays. If a small cavity is ignored, it can grow into a larger cavity and cause problems like pain, infection, tooth breakage, and tooth loss.
First, the dentist numbs your mouth and removes the decayed part of the tooth. Then the dentist places a filling material to replace the damaged part of the tooth. After this, the filling is shaped and smoothed.
We mainly use white tooth-colored (white) filling materials. Our filling materials come in different shades, and we choose the shade that best matches your tooth. We offer two different tooth-colored filling materials: composite resin and glass ionomer. Feel free to ask your dentist which filling material is best for you.