Dental Fillings

What are Dental Fillings?

Dental fillings are used to replace areas of tooth that have decayed. We offer both composite resin (tooth-colored) fillings as well as amalgam (metal) fillings. Fillings are ideal for maintaining the health and structural integrity of your teeth when decay has occurred. With early treatment, fillings are small and have little to no impact on the tooth’s pulp.

Dental Fillings in Chicago, IL | Confident Smiles

Why are Dental Fillings needed?

The most common reason for needing a filling is because you have a cavity. Cavities can happen at virtually every stage of your life. They can happen because you may not have taken good care of your teeth or you are more susceptible to tooth decay. Children are often more vulnerable to developing cavities, but they’re one of the most common tooth-related problems we experience each day regardless of age.

Who’s a good candidate for Dental Fillings?

We will perform a dental examination to check for any signs of cavities. In some cases, x-rays are needed to check for hard-to-find cavities in the mouth. Most patients who need a filling can safely have the procedure done. If the decay in the tooth has been allowed to reach the inner pulp, we may suggest a root canal rather than just a filling.

What happens during the Dental Filling procedure?

Our Chicago dentists will begin the procedure by administering a local anesthetic to numb the area. We then remove the decay from the tooth. Once removed, we prepare the tiny hole that was made for the filling. Composite resin is then applied and smoothed into place. It’s then cured with a bright light so that it fully hardens. For amalgam fillings, we mix the amalgam filling mixture together and pack it into the small hole. We remove any excess from the area and the filling hardens naturally on its own. Both composite resin and amalgam fillings can last for many years with proper care.

If you would like to learn more about dental fillings or think you may need one, call Confident Smiles and we can help to get you in for an appointment with Dr. Barsa and Dr. Delafuente.

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