Dental Fillings in McAllen, Tx

When you have a damaged tooth due to decay or injury, your dentists can restore them from its function to its shape through Dental Fillings. Restoring your tooth with fillings helps prevent more risks that may lead to more damage or even losing a tooth. Traditionally, fillings are made from metal; now, they come from a range of different materials such as composite resin, metal amalgam, and porcelain. Thanks to anesthetics, the application of dental fillings no longer has to be painful for patients. 

To learn more about dental fillings, contact Iman Dental Center today.

What are Dental Fillings?

Filling in dentistry means using artificial materials to mend a crack or hole in a damaged tooth. Dentists provide fillings by first removing any decaying tooth material. Then, the dentists will clean the area and fill the cavity with either porcelain, gold, mercury, tin, tooth-colored composite resin, copper, or zinc. 

Dental fillings protect the root from further decay by sealing the spaces for patients to finally chew normally again.

What Causes Tooth Decay?

Before moving forward to the process, we must first understand the primary root of using dental fillings – tooth decay and cavities. Tooth decay happens when bacteria in the mouth releases acids that damage the tooth enamel. The damage will lead to creating holes in a tooth. Severe decays cause even larger holes and entire destruction to a tooth. 

When you expose yourself to acid more often – for example, drinks containing sugar and starches – will cause your enamel to eventually lose its minerals. An indication of early decay is the appearance of a white spot where the minerals are lost. 

However, you can prevent or stop tooth decay since enamel can repair itself using the minerals from your saliva or fluoride from toothpaste. But, if the tooth decay continues, which means losing more minerals, the enamel will have further damage, creating more cavities. Consult your dentist for tooth decay to prevent infection and tooth loss.

What is the Process of Dental Filling?

When your dentist recommends tooth filling as the best solution to your dental problem, you are likely to move to the next treatment. In general, the procedure will only last roughly from thirty minutes to an hour to accomplish all the essential dental work. 

Your dentist will prepare a numbing gel/spray before giving the local anesthesia – this will create a comfortable experience for the patients by minimizing the discomfort from the local anesthetic needle. 

When the area is numb, your dentist will get rid of any decay with a drill and seal it with the filling. Your dentist will monitor your bite function to ensure that it goes back to normal. Your mouth will numb for a few hours after the treatment. So, ensure that when eating, you don’t chew on the numb side of the mouth. 

Dental fillings are relatively straightforward dental procedures. However, always keep your dentist in contact in case you feel severe pain or consistent discomfort.

Types of Dental Fillings

• Gold Fillings. Gold fillings are made in a laboratory to fit the tooth cavity and are cemented into the area. This type of filling is the most expensive and requires patients multiple visits. Gold fillings are best for the surrounding gum tissue and can last for more than 15 years. 
• Porcelain Fillings. Porcelain fillings can last as long as gold fillings. They are also virtually unnoticeable and are designed to match the original/healthy teeth.  
• Composite fillings. Composite fillings are most similar to porcelain fillings, but they can only last 5-10 years.

Who Needs Dental Fillings?

As mentioned, dental fillings are ideal for repairing cavities and reviving bite function. The primary steps of removing the decayed material and fill the hole will stop further decay – giving you stronger teeth that can prevent cracks and chips. Below are signs that you will need dental fillings:

• Consistent toothache
• Sensitivity to cold or hot beverages/food
• Black or brown spot on the covering of the tooth 
• Sharp pain and discomfort when biting down on a specific area/tooth
• Bad breath that doesn’t go with brushing

Remember that not every cavity causes the signs above. In most cases, cavities only show symptoms when they are progressing for some time. See your dentist every now and then for cleaning and consultations. The process may also include x-rays and lasers to identify smaller cavities before causing more threat to your tooth’s strength. 

Often, fillings can also address more issues other than cavities. Let’s say you chip a tooth; your dentist may suggest a filling to repair the chip. Grinding the teeth will eventually weaken the enamel to the extent that your dentist will require you a dental filling to prevent more damage. Also, prevent from using your teeth when opening packages as they cause your enamel chips that your dentist will need filling to fix.

How Much Does a Dental Filling Cost?

Porcelain and other tooth-colored fillings may cost you somewhere between $150-$450. Extensive tooth decay and more fillings for the treatment may also cost you more. For more information, you may review your health funds dental policy.

How Do You Care for Your Tooth Fillings? 

You can normally eat after having the dental filling procedure. However, if you have had the local anesthetic, make sure not to chew or eat on the numb side. Be cautious, as well, in consuming hot beverages as the anesthetic minimizes your ability to gauge the heat, and you might end up burning yourself. A deep filling may cause you more discomfort and pain, but this should fade away within days as the swelling reduces. If the pain continues, give us a call. 

Nothing goes wrong with regular brushing, flossing, and keeping a healthy diet. Also, have your regular 6-month checkup to reduce the chances of developing tooth decay. To learn more about your options, you can always contact us at Iman Dental Center – Mcallen, TX.