How To Tell If You Need a Dental Filling

Restorative Care: Dental Fillings

This type of restorative dental care is used to restore the structure, function and appearance of a tooth that's been damaged or decayed, as well as provide you with relief for any dental pain that you may be experiencing.

When are dental fillings needed?

If you are suffering from cracks, cavities or dental decay then your dentist may recommend having dental fillings to repair your teeth. They help restore functionality to your tooth and in some circumstances, dental fillings can help make cosmetic improvements to your smile. 

How will I know that I need a dental filling?

Only a dentist will be able to say for sure whether or not you are in need of a dental filling but there are some common signs to watch out for. If you experience any of these, schedule an appointment with your dentist:

1. You feel a sharp or throbbing pain in your tooth.
2. When you examine your teeth, you see a hole or dark spot. 
3. You can see that your tooth is physically broken or chipped.
4. Your tooth has a rough texture when you touch it.
5. Food keeps getting stuck between certain teeth. 
6. An existing tooth filling has broken or cracked. 
7. You've lost a tooth filling and need a replacement.

What are the different types of dental fillings?

Dental fillings can be made of a number of materials, from amalgam to composite, porcelain and gold. While each of these materials is safe and long-lasting, they also each have their own advantages and disadvantages when it comes to repairing a cavity or decay. Here, our dentists share the different types of fillings that may be used and some information about each one.

Porcelain Fillings: A Strong Option

Also called inlays and onlays, porcelain fillings are brittle, hard, and made in combination with metal. This type of dental filling will be created using an outside lab and then shipped back to your dentist who will place them into your mouth. These strong, tooth-coloured dental restorations are typically used on molars as they are more durable and longer lasting than a regular dental filling. 

This type of filling generally takes two visits to complete.

Composite Fillings: Natural Appearance

Composite fillings are commonly used due to the fact that they are tooth coloured allowing them the ability to blend in with the teeth that surround it.

They look and feel natural, and are popular with patients who are concerned with how amalgam (grey) fillings may appear on teeth that are visible when they smile.

Dentists like composites because they are easy to sculpt and shape onto a tooth, and bond naturally to a tooth. This allows your dentist to save as much of the natural tooth as possible during the process.

Your dentist will remove tooth decay and add bonding material to the inside of the hole so the filling can be placed. Composite resin is then layered in the hole.

Your dentist will use a special curing light on each layer to help harden the resin. When the last layer of resin has hardened, the filling will be carefully shaped to match your natural teeth.

Gold Fillings: Long-Lasting Durability

Your dentist will need to create a cast of your tooth in order to have this type of dental filling. Created from a mix of gold combined with other materials such as copper and silver, a cast gold filling is created in a dental lab and sent back to your dentist.

It will then be cemented in place inside your mouth. Though this type of filling is considered the most durable (typically lasting 20 years or more) it is also the most costly. You'll also require at least two dental appointments to have it placed.

Would you like to learn more about which fillings we offer at Progressive Dental? Contact our Calgary dentists.