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Dental fillings, also known as dental restoration are a form of treatment that restores the integrity, morphology, and function of a missing or decayed tooth structure that results from external trauma or caries and also, involves the replacement of these structures through dental implants.
Treatment of a cavity involves the removal of the decayed tooth and filling the space where dental pulp usually resides.
The cost of a dental filling is approximately $180 to $280 and up depending on the tooth and how many surfaces. To get an exact cost you will need an examination by the dentist.
Most insurances will cover dental fillings, we can help you find out if your insurance will cover it.
If you do not have insurance we also provide in-house dental plants to help you get the treatment that you need by making small easy monthly payments.
There are several filling materials available nowadays such as:
You are a candidate for a mercury filling replacement if:
The first step involves numbing the decayed or damaged tooth by injecting local anesthesia. The dentist confirms once you are numb and then with the help of a dental drill, removes the decay.
After removal of decay, the dentist readies your tooth for a filling or restoration. Acid gel cleans the remaining debris or bacteria and then filling material is poured to fill the gaps or cavity.
A dental filling becomes necessary if you have a decayed tooth. If you leave them unfilled, then as the cavity expands, your dental health will worsen. It may lead to loss of bone and finally, tooth extraction.
After you have received a filling, you are likely to experience:
Potential complications and risks of dental fillings are as follows:
Generally, a dental filling lasts for 7 to 20 years, depending on the location or area of the filling, your oral and dental hygiene, and the size of the filling.
This means you must visit your dentists once every six months to avoid any serious dental issues.
Several filling materials are used by dentists. The materials available for filling are porcelain, gold, silver amalgam (that consists of silver, mercury, tin, copper, zinc), the plastic of tooth-colour, and other materials such as composite resin filling.
The procedure for dental filling is easy and comfortable. It usually doesn't hurt at all. However, you might feel discomfort or pain after the filling is done. Extreme sensitivity in your tooth or gums may persist for two to 4 weeks. If it still does not get better after four weeks, consult your dentist.
If you leave your cavity unfilled, the cavities might grow and allow harmful bacteria to enter deeper into your tooth, resulting in a further increase in the cavity size, and may crack your tooth after a point.
The untreated cavity may even damage your nerve and cause you severe pain. If the cavity reached the root, cavity filling will not be able to repair it, you will have to apply a different procedure like an extraction or root canal, which are painful procedures.
An unfilled cavity can also lead to infections which may cause your jaw or gums to swell and they become extremely painful.
This depends on the type of filling:
In many studies, researchers found that getting a dental filling can escalate the chances of tooth decay in the adjacent teeth. In a few cases, fillings were not a cure for tooth decay but more like a stop-gap. Around 60 percent of patients faced decay of the dentine or enamel and 40 percent of the healthy adjacent teeth remained free from decay.
A new pain-free dental filling has been developed that repairs cavities without any injections or drilling. The tooth-building procedure encourages teeth by allowing them to repair themselves.
If you have a cavity, usually they do not hurt, unless they expand and become larger. When it becomes so large that it starts to affect your nerves and fractures your tooth. That's when an untreated cavity starts to pain. It may also damage the pulp.
It is quite natural to think that filling a tooth is more expensive than pulling out a tooth. But the truth is that tooth replacements cost more money and time and if you choose to replace, then it is likely to have emotional and physical costs.
Dr. Somayeh Nourian is the principal dentist at Kiwi Dental focusing on restorative, cosmetic and dental surgeries. With over 14 years of experience as a family dentist, she has earned the trust of many families to take care of their oral health.
She graduated from the University of Ottawa with a bachelor of Biochemistry and earned her dental degree from the University of Toronto in 2006. She has a passion for dental surgeries including dental implants and gum grafts and is currently part of the Ontario Dental Implant Network.
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