Dental Fillings With Gentle Dental
As many of us know, teeth fillings are a common practice in dentistry because they are one of the most effective ways to fix a decayed tooth, or a cavity. It’s important to make sure each and every one of your teeth is cavity-free because they are all essential to your overall oral health, and can lead to bigger problems later down the line if they aren’t fixed.
Our Services
How Dental Fillings Work
Dental fillings are a routine process that our family dentists are able to make as painless as possible. The first step to a dental filling is ensuring that all the decayed part of the tooth is gone. The tooth will then be thoroughly cleaned before placing the filling material in the cavity. This material seals the tooth, preventing further decay by building a strong defense to ensure that your oral health can be maintained.
What Types Of Dental Filling Options Are There?
There are a few options for tooth filling materials, each of which have different benefits. These include composite resin (or tooth colored) fillings, gold fillings, silver amalgam fillings, and porcelain fillings.
Composite Resin Fillings are most commonly used because they closely match the color of teeth, but usually last only 5 to 10 years.
Gold Fillings last approximately 10 to 15 years and some people enjoy the appearance of them, but they are usually more expensive than other materials.
Silver Amalgam Fillings usually last 10 to 15 years and are generally less expensive than gold and composite fillings, but can have a higher risk of cracking or fracturing the tooth.
Porcelain Fillings last over 15 years and are more resistant to stains than composite resin fillings, but can also be more expensive than alternative options.
Root Canal
DEntal Crowns
Maintaining Dental Fillings
Like with all dental care, it is important to make sure you are caring for your fillings long after you leave the dentist’s office. The most important way to care for your fillings is to maintain good oral hygiene practices. This includes visiting your dentist every 6 months, brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride-containing toothpaste, and flossing at least once per day. You should call your dentist if you suspect there may be a problem with your fillings, like if your tooth is suddenly extremely sensitive, you feel a sharp edge on the tooth, or you notice a crack in the filling.
Contact Us!
If you’re in need of a dental filling in the Southern Maine area, contact the family dentists at Gentle Dental by giving us a call at one of our locations or by filling out our new patient form on our website.
Real Clients, Real Stories
Best cleaning I have ever had!!! Hygienist was so knowledgeable and showed me how I should be brushing my teeth and flossing the right way. She took extra time to educate me and it is much appreciated!!!!