Procedure For Dental Filling

There is a procedure to follow for Dental filling such as follows

Use of Anesthetic

A local anesthetic will be given to numb the area of the tooth that is to be treated. After a few minutes this anesthetic will kick in and the filling procedure can begin. The anesthetic will be injected in or close to the cheek or gums near the affected tooth.

Use of Air Abrasion Instrument

The decayed area will be cleaned and decayed and damaged parts of the tooth will be removed using drills, a laser or a technique called air abrasion (powerful puffs of air ware released onto the tooth's surface to blow away particles of damaged tooth bone.

Roughing up the Enamel

If composite dental fillings are applied, a gel or solution is applied to the tooth to roughen up the surface of the tooth that will be filled. This ensures a stronger bond between the new dental filling and the tooth. After this the composite dental fillings will be applied in thin layers, dried in between layers with a dental light. If the filling is an amalgam one, the tooth will be filled in one go.

Benefits of Dental Fillings

Fillings help avoid tooth loss as a result of decay. If the affected tooth has not been damaged too much the filling procedure can restore it back to a state in which the tooth can be used again without any discomfort. If dental filling is not applied to a damaged tooth, decay might continue and result in the loss of a tooth.

Disadvantages of Dental Fillings

Dental fillings do have certain disadvantages such as follows

Sensitivity to Pressure

Sometimes a sensitivity to pressure or hot or cold air may be experienced after having received dental fillings. These sensitivities are more likely to be experienced after composite dental filling than after an amalgam filling, as a result of the treatment of the tooth before the actual filling is applied.

Allergies

In rare cases people might experience an allergy to amalgam fillings containing mercury. The allergy will occur as a rash on the mouth and possibly on the face. When the filling has been removed and replaced with a composite filling, porcelain or gold, the symptoms will disappear. Sometimes an allergic reaction will only last for a few days before it disappears.

Health Care for Dental Fillings

After dental filling is over you need to make sure you follow certain necessary tips to maintain healthy teeth. Some of them are

Good Oral Hygiene

Good oral hygiene after a dental filling treatment involves brushing the teeth at least twice a day, but preferably more often especially after eating candy, ice cream and sticky foods such as dried fruits. Hard candy should be avoided as it can damage the tooth and filling. Using good quality mouth water that kills bacteria will help keep attacks by bacteria at bay.

Regular Flossing

Regular flossing, after brushing the teeth or after a meal, will help remove bacteria from in between the teeth. Make sure that especially the teeth in the back of the mouth are clean and floss regularly in between these teeth. A tooth brush cannot reach these areas.

Tooth fillings will stay in place for a long period of time depending on your personal dental care. Amalgam dental fillings as well as composite fillings need a high level of mouth hygiene and it is imperative that you contact your dentist if the filling looks or feels loose or damaged. Bacteria can get lodged in a cavity between the filling and the actual tooth.