A dental filling is a common procedure that’s used to repair a cavity caused by tooth decay. It can also be used to repair teeth that are broken, cracked or worn down (from grinding, for example.)
Generally speaking, there are two types of fillings. Direct fillings are placed directly into a prepared cavity and can be completed in a single visit.
If you need a dental filling, your dentist will start by numbing the area around the tooth using anesthetic. From there, the affected area will be removed using a dental drill, laser or air-abrasion tool depending on the position and extent of the decay. Once all of the decay is removed, the missing area will be cleaned and “filled” using one of a number of materials.
The fillings process
If you need a dental filling, your dentist will start by numbing the area around the tooth using anesthetic. From there, the affected area will be removed using a dental drill, laser or air-abrasion tool depending on the position and extent of the decay. Once all of the decay is removed, the missing area will be cleaned and “filled” using one of a number of materials.
Traditionally, fillings were made of gold, porcelain or a silver amalgam, but newer dental fillings are made using ceramic or plastic compounds that more closely mirror the appearance of natural teeth. In those cases, the tooth-colored filling will be applied in layers, each one dried and hardened using a dental UV light. When the filling is in place, any excess is shaved away and the tooth is buffed and polished.
Other types of fillings
The other type of fillings, called indirect fillings, are used when the tooth isn’t strong enough to support a direct filling. One type, an inlay, stays within the bumps on the tooth’s chewing surface. Another type, an onlay, covers some (or all) of the bumps. They are also referred to as partial crowns.
Unlike traditional fillings, inlays and overlays require multiple trips to the dentist. However, they also laws much longer — as long as 30 years. Inlays and overlays also do less damage to the structure of the tooth vs. traditional fillings.
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