Fillings

Checking your teeth for tooth decay is just one part of a thorough dental examination. During your checkup appointment, your dentist (or dental hygienist) will likely evaluate the health of your gums, perform a head and neck examination (to look for anything out of the ordinary) and examine your mouth for any indications of oral cancer, diabetes or vitamin deficiencies. Don’t be surprised if your dentist also examines your face, bite, saliva and movement of your lower jaw joints (TMJs). Your dentist or dental hygienist will then clean your teeth and stress the importance of you maintaining good oral hygiene at home between visitsile evaluation

WHEN IT IS DONE ?

A tooth filling is done when someone notices any of the following signs and symptoms.
★ Black or brown spots on teeth
★ Hole in the tooth
★ Sensitivity to cold or hot food and drinks
★ Food lodgement between teeth or in certain areas of teeth
★ Cracked or chipped tooth structure

PROCEDURE OF TOOTH FILLING
★ Firstly, thorough examination is done to see how severe is the cavity in tooth. The tooth fillings are suitable for only minor decay and simple tooth fractures.
★ After the detailed examination, if required an X-ray of particular tooth is taken for further information
★ Depending upon the extent of decay, local anaesthesia is administered to make the area around the infected tooth numb
★ Then the decayed or damaged tooth or the areas around it is prepared for restoration

TYPES OF FILLINGS
Tooth Fillings are of different types which depend upon the condition and position of decay and other factors such as a person being allergic to a material like specific metal. The different type of fillings available are:

★ Amalgam Fillings: Amalgam has been used by dental professionals for more than a century and it is the most trusted material used for filling cavities. These fillings are among the most cost effective of all cavity-filling materials.
★ Composite Fillings: Composites are filled resins, a combination of glass or quartz filler and can be made to match the colour of your tooth. Composite fillings are suitable for small-to-mid-size restorations in areas of your mouth that perform moderate chewing.
★ Metals: Metal fillings are more durable than tooth coloured fillings and can last as long as 10-15 years before they need to be replaced. Gold or silver amalgam are the most common metals used for a cavity filling.
★ Ceramic: A ceramic filling can be nearly as expensive as a gold cavity filling. A ceramic cavity filling usually made of porcelain is tooth-coloured, and it may be less likely to show tooth stains over time than a composite cavity filling.
★ Glass Ionomer: Glass ionomer cement is blend of acrylic and glass which is used to create a cavity filling that releases fluoride to help protect teeth. This filling is less durable than all other types, and may need to be replaced.