Dental Fillings – Restoring Damaged Teeth

Dental fillings are one of the most frequently employed restoration treatments for damaged teeth caused by decay. Dental fillings protect remaining tooth structure, relieve any associated pain from cavities and improve chewing/biting capabilities.

Teeth are often vulnerable to bacteria that cause decay; however, most people don’t understand their benefits go far beyond cavity repair. Dentist Mississauga can help you maintain optimal oral health and prevent common dental problems.

Cracked or Chipped Teeth

Dental Fillings offer an effective solution for damaged and decayed teeth, protecting from further decay while restoring functionality to damaged tooth. They work by blocking off spaces where bacteria can access and destroy a tooth; and can be performed quickly in our office without need for extended recovery times or discomfort.

As soon as the area surrounding your tooth has been numbed with local anesthetic, we will remove damaged areas before applying conditioning liquid and bonding a durable plastic resin to its surface – this material matches your natural color perfectly and will fill in cracks or chips as well as repair any unsightly spots on your teeth. Once placed, our professionals will trim and shape it for optimal comfort bite and natural appearance.

Our dentists offer an assortment of filling materials, such as amalgam fillings (commonly known as silver fillings) that consist of mercury, silver, tin, and copper. These fillings are commonly used in molars and other teeth that experience significant chewing pressure; although durable they will need to be restored or replaced eventually. Composite resin, glass ionomer cement or porcelain fillings may be better choices for smaller fillings that can easily match to tooth color.

Root Canals

Damage and decay to teeth can result in infection of their pulps, leading to pain and discomfort for patients as it progresses to dentin beneath. A root canal filling is the ideal way of stopping this progression before pain arises in later stages.

Your dentist will first conduct an exam and conduct X-rays to identify any issues. Following that, local anesthetic is used to numb the affected area before any damaged tissue is extracted by dental tools or laser. Your tooth is then thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before its opening is filled in with rubber-like material to keep germs out through saliva and prevent future infections.

Once a tooth has been filled, the dentist will seal off its opening and reshape surrounding areas to create a comfortable bite and natural aesthetic. Dental filling options may include composite resin, glass ionomer or porcelain material to provide color-matched restoration. Ceramic may also be more resistant to staining than composite resin for longer lasting restoration solutions.

Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is a cosmetic treatment used to repair small cracks, chips or discolorations in teeth. This process involves applying and shaping plastic resin directly onto each individual tooth before hardening with special lights – color matching this material so it restores its original look while also strengthening damaged ones.

Before applying bonding, the dentist numbs the affected area with an injection of local anesthetic. Once cleaned and prepared with an etching liquid and conditioning agent to help the composite resin adhere, layers of bonding material are then applied in layers to each tooth, sculpted until fitting well with surrounding teeth, then polished until hardened – at which point trimming, smoothing, and polishing will finish the restoration process.

Composite resin fillings typically last three to 10 years depending on the extent of damage and lifestyle habits, including staining. Though more likely than natural teeth to chip or break, composite fillings should still be treated like natural ones if broken or discolored; in such instances your dentist will need to replace or touch up it immediately. Avoid biting down on hard objects for the duration of their repair period in order to protect the new filling from further cracking or chipping; people who grind or clench their teeth can speed up wear off of composite fillings more rapidly causing premature wear away of fillings more quickly compared with those who do not grind their fillings regularly causing the fillings to wear away quicker over time than expected.

Dental Crowns

A dental crown serves to both repair and restore an injured tooth. Not only will it protect it from further deterioration, but it will also keep bacteria at bay to reduce infections and lessen the likelihood of future decay, while simultaneously decreasing sensitivity in and around it.

Your dentist will administer a local anesthetic to numb the affected area before administering any necessary treatments, which could include extracting any remaining tooth decay and preparing the space for filling by making it more porous, which will allow resin composite or glass ionomer cement filling to better adhere to tooth surfaces. Finally, they’ll fill and polish your cavity.

Gold fillings are superior to other materials in terms of durability and tolerance of gum tissue, making them an excellent option for back teeth or molars in the deepest part of your mouth. Gold fillings may even last up to 30 years!

Indirect fillings (inlays or onlays) are typically constructed in a dental laboratory out of porcelain, ceramic, or gold materials and may last up to 20 years or more with proper maintenance. They tend to be more costly than direct fillings but may provide better long-term solutions.