Fillings
Do I need a dental filling?
Dental fillings are one of the most common dental procedures. They are used to restore little holes in your teeth (known as cavities). A cavity is the beginning stage of tooth decay. Cavities that are left untreated can allow for the decay to advance. Advanced decay is much more difficult to treat and can have long term effects on your oral health.
Cavities can be difficult to spot with the naked eye. In some cases, they may cause discomfort or sensitivity. Your dentist can easily identify cavities and treat them with a filling with a thorough intraoral examination and radiographs. A dental filling is a relatively quick and easy procedure. It’s the best way to prevent tooth decay from progressing and restore the structure of your tooth.
What to expect when you get a dental filling
At Lexington Dental we take exceptional care during each and every procedure we do. We use top quality materials and equipment paired with polished skills and techniques to ensure you get the best results.
While the process of getting a dental filling may vary slightly from one patient to another, here is what you can generally expect during the process:
- Your dentist will begin by numbing the area with local anaesthetic to ensure your comfort during the process.
- Once the area is numb your dentist uses a special tool to remove the soft and compromised tooth structure and will then thoroughly clean the remaining part of the tooth to ensure it is nice and healthy, improving the success of the treatment.
- The hole is then filled with a special material and hardened with light.
- Your dentist does a few final checks and makes sure your bite still aligns.
- Your filling is polished for a smooth and natural feeling finish.
The whole process can take anywhere between 30 to 90 minutes to complete depending on what type of filling you require.
Dental fillings Bella Vista
Aftercare for
dental fillings
There isn’t much downtime needed after a dental filling procedure. The anaesthetic used to numb the area usually lasts for a few hours. During that time you need to be mindful not to chew the inside of your cheeks or lips.
You may feel a little bit of sensitivity around the area that was treated for the first 24-28 hours, which is perfectly normal. We recommend using the other side of your mouth to chew during this short recovery time to avoid any extra pressure on the tooth.
