Oral bacteria can wreak havoc on your smile, contributing to issues like cavities, tooth decay, and periodontal inflammation. Fortunately, by offering services like deep cleanings and dental fillings, dentists can help you enjoy a comfortable, beautiful smile once again. Here is a little more information about how fillings are placed and what you need to do to care for them. 

How Fillings Are Placed

Before fillings can be placed, dentists start by carefully evaluating the tooth. After performing a physical exam, dentists use X-rays to determine how deep the decay lies in the tooth. Next, the tooth and gums are numbed using a powerful local anesthetic. After the numbing agent has successfully numbed the area, dentists proceed by removing the decay with specialized dental tools. 

To keep decay from coming back, dentists carefully clean, sanitize, and dry the area before placing the filling. If amalgam filling material is used, the void in the tooth is shaped with undercuts to keep the amalgam in place. The material is then deposited into the void. If composite resin material is used, dentists will select the appropriate shade of material, pipe it into place, shape it, and then cure it with a small, handheld UV light. 

Before the restoration is complete, the tooth will be checked and polished to ensure stability and comfort. 

Caring for Your Fillings

Receiving a dental filling is a minimally invasive procedure that requires little to no recovery. Often, patients experience soreness around the anesthetic injection site or the gum tissue where the filling was placed, but this discomfort can be controlled with mild, over-the-counter pain relievers. If you have amalgam fillings, avoid chewing with that tooth for about 24 hours following the procedure. However, composite resin fillings are cured in the dental office, and don’t require any special considerations during meals. 

If you have noticed changes with your teeth and you are concerned about your smile, don’t wait to contact High Point Smile Dentistry. As a trusted Guilford County, NC, dental practice with more than 15 years’ worth of experience, their dentist can help with all aspects of preventative, restorative, cosmetic, and general dental care. Take your complimentary smile analysis by visiting their website, or call (336) 884-4000 to schedule an appointment.