What Is a Dental Filling?

A dental filling is a treatment used to repair a tooth after decay has damaged it. Your dentist removes the part and fills the space with a material that lets the tooth work normally again. Simple enough really.

Why Does a Tooth Need a Filling?

Tooth decay happens when bacteria in plaque produce acids that gradually wear away the outer part of a tooth. If the decay keeps moving it creates a hole. A filling closes that damaged area after the decay has been removed. The tooth isn’t left with a weak open spot.

Treating a cavity early is much better than waiting for it to become a bigger problem. Once decay reaches the part of the tooth you may need more involved treatment, such as a root canal. Nobody really wants to turn a filling into a whole afternoon at the dentist.

What Happens During a Filling?

First your dentist checks the tooth. May take an X-ray if the decay isn’t easy to see. The area is then numbed so you shouldn’t feel the drilling itself. You may notice pressure. Hear some very unpleasant noises but the actual treatment usually feels quicker than people expect.

The decayed part is removed carefully. After that the dentist cleans the area. Places the filling material inside the space. The filling is shaped so your bite feels normal again than leaving you with a tooth that feels strangely high when you close your mouth.

What Is a Dental Filling Made From?

Fillings come in materials. Tooth-coloured composite is a choice because it blends into the tooth and looks much less obvious. Amalgam has also been used for years particularly in back teeth where strength matters.

Personally tooth-coloured fillings make sense for visible teeth. You don’t spend money fixing a tooth just to have a patch sitting there afterwards if a suitable tooth-coloured option is available.

Does Getting a Filling Hurt?

The injection is usually the bit people worry about most. Once the area is numb you shouldn’t feel pain during the filling. Your jaw might feel tired afterwards though especially if you had to keep your mouth open for a while.

Some sensitivity after the treatment is normal. It often settles down on its own. If the tooth keeps hurting or becomes increasingly sensitive though tell your dentist than hoping it’ll magically disappear.

How Long Does a Dental Filling Last?

A filling can last for years but it isn’t permanent. How long it stays in shape depends on the tooth the material used and how much pressure it takes when you bite.

• Small cavity? That’s usually the stage to treat before the damage gets deeper.

• Tooth-coloured composite looks natural although large fillings need more careful planning.

• Mild sensitivity afterwards is fairly common and usually settles than hanging around forever.

So Do You Actually Need One?

If your dentist has found a cavity a filling is often the way to stop the decay from progressing. Don’t wait for the tooth to become painful before dealing with it. Cavities don’t need your permission to get bigger.