Sundance Family Dental
Dental Fillings
Experiencing a toothache caused by a cavity can be a terrible experience. Cavities form when bacteria is left on your teeth too long, typically generated from poor oral hygiene care. Fortunately, there are steps to avoiding as well as healing cavities. At Sundance Family Dental in Orem, Utah, we offer dental fillings. Dental fillings are an excellent, minimally invasive procedure that cleans the decaying tooth and fills the hole with a safe and durable material.
At our office, our excellent dentists, Dr. Kyle Birchall and Dr. Drew Miner, are here to provide the care you need to heal your smile and help rid your life of pain when it comes to your teeth. We strongly encourage each patient to practice preventative care like proper oral hygiene and bi-annual dental exams and cleanings to ensure their smile stays healthy and strong.
What are Dental Fillings?
Dental fillings are one of the most common and straightforward dental procedures. This process involves closing a cavity caused by decay in teeth with a material that fills the space and restores the tooth’s health. Nowadays, dental fillings have evolved, and alternative materials are available that are more appealing than traditional silver fillings, like tooth-colored porcelain and composite resin.
Who Needs Dental Fillings?
Dental fillings are an excellent solution for youth and older individuals. Fillings are typically necessary when a tooth has suffered from decay that has reached the inner layers of your tooth. However, with older patients, dental fillings may help to deal with wear and tear or broken teeth.
What to Expect When Getting a Dental Filling?
The dental filling procedure will begin with your dentist, Dr. Kyle Birchall or Dr. Drew Miner, numbing the affected area to prevent discomfort during the procedure. If you require a larger filling, your dentist may use sedation like nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, to ensure ultimate comfort during the treatment.
Once your tooth is adequately numbed, your dentist will remove the decay from your tooth using specialized tools. Once the space is free of decay and bacteria, the filling material is applied, shaped, and polished to restore the tooth’s shape while ensuring an even bite.
Aftercare of Dental Fillings
Aftercare of dental fillings is essential to avoid infection or other problems. The area surrounding the filling might be sensitive to hot or cold for a short period after the procedure. This sensitivity is perfectly normal, but severe pain or sensitivity that lasts longer than a couple of weeks should be reported to your dentist.
To ensure the care of your smile and the filling, you must follow proper oral hygiene, including:
Brushing
Brush your teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste. We recommend brushing your teeth for two minutes to ensure the bacteria in your mouth is gone.
Flossing
Floss between your teeth at least once daily. Flossing helps to get the bacteria and food particles that your toothbrush cannot reach.
Dental Visits
Visit our office in Orem every six months for your bi-annual dental exam and cleaning to ensure your smile and filling are healthy. By maintaining your dental health, you can ensure that your filling will last.
Dental Fillings in Orem, UT
Dental fillings are a standard part of dental care and can help restore the health and function of teeth. Preventing cavities from occurring is always the best route, but if it happens, there are options like dental fillings to help restore your tooth and avoid the chances of needing an extraction. If you are experiencing tooth pain, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with our dentists at Sundance Family Dental today!
We also provide other services like preventative care, family dentistry, and cosmetic dentistry to help ensure the health and beauty of our patients’ smiles.
