{"id":659,"date":"2016-08-29T12:48:36","date_gmt":"2016-08-29T17:48:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southerndental.com\/blog\/?p=659"},"modified":"2016-08-29T12:48:36","modified_gmt":"2016-08-29T17:48:36","slug":"dental-fillings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southerndental.com\/blog\/dental-fillings\/","title":{"rendered":"Dental FILLINGS"},"content":{"rendered":"

The occurrence of cavities is sometimes not entirely controllable and the effects are already irreversible. Here at Southern Dental<\/a> , we don\u2019t leave our patients hopeless. We offer a wide range of services to provide solution to your oral health problems.<\/p>\n

If you are worried about a damaged tooth, Southern Dental can help you bring it back to its normal function and shape through filling. Filling is a method to restore a damaged or decayed tooth. When a dentist performs filling, he needs to clean the affected area and then fills the cleaned out cavity with a filling material. The open spaces need to be filled in because these are the areas where the bacteria can enter. Filling helps prevention of tooth decay. Materials used for fillings include gold, porcelain, a composite resin (tooth-colored fillings), and an amalgam (an alloy of mercury, silver, copper, tin and sometimes zinc).<\/p>\n

What steps are available in filling the tooth?<\/h2>\n

The first step the dentist will do is to numb the area around the tooth to be filled in with the use of a local anesthesia. Next, the decayed area will be removed with the use of a drill, air abrasion instrument or laser. Once the dentist determines that the area is free of all decay, the dentist will prepare the space by cleaning the cavity of bacteria and debris. Then he will be filling in the clean space and finish and polish it.<\/p>\n

After a filling, some people tend to feel sensitivity. The tooth may be sensitive to pressure, air, sweet foods or cold. The most common reason for feeling pain after the anesthesia wears off is that the filling is too high. If this happens, you can contact your dentist as soon as possible to adjust or reduce the height of the filling. There is also another type of discomfort felt which is called galvanic shock. This is a very sharp shock that is felt only when your teeth touch. This is caused by two metals touching and producing an electric current in your mouth.<\/p>\n

In most cases, sensitivity will only last for over one week to two weeks. If it lasts more than that, it is important to let your dentist know. He will also have to be aware so that the next time you need a filling, he may be able to use a different material to reduce sensitivity.<\/p>\n

What types of materials are used?<\/h2>\n

The type of filling to be used is determined by the extent of the repair and whether you have allergies for certain materials and where in your mouth the filling is needed. The following are the considerations for different materials used:<\/p>\n