Tooth Fillings Specialist

What are tooth fillings?

A tooth filling repairs damage to your enamel caused by decay. Specifically, fillings prevent cavities from progressing, ensuring your teeth and smile remain healthy and problem-free for years to come.

Central Avenue Dental restores smiles with white composite fillings. Composite resin mimics the color and light-reflecting properties of natural enamel, ensuring the restoration blends in with your smile. 

Central Avenue Dental can also replace metal fillings, providing a safer, more natural-looking alternative.

What does getting a tooth filling involve?

At Central Avenue Dental, getting a tooth filling is an outpatient procedure that typically takes less than an hour.

Before applying a filling, your provider conducts an oral exam and takes a series of oral X-rays to assess the extent of the decay. Afterward, they administer a local anesthetic to numb your mouth and use specialized tools to remove the decaying portion of your tooth.

After removing the damaged portion of your tooth, your provider rinses it with an antiseptic solution and fills the hole with composite resin. Then your provider cures the resin with a special light. When the resin dries, they polish your teeth and provide care instructions.

What if I have a deep cavity?

If you have a deep cavity that won’t respond to a traditional filling, your Central Avenue Dental provider might recommend inlays or onlays. Inlays and onlays are a type of indirect restoration, meaning a dental laboratory manufactures them. When the lab completes your inlay or onlay, your provider bonds it on top of your affected tooth.

What is recovery like after a tooth filling?

Most tooth fillings heal quickly and present few side effects. Even so, many people experience increased tooth sensitivity for a few days. To minimize any discomfort, Central Avenue Dental recommends:

• Chewing on the opposite side of your mouth
• Avoiding hot or cold foods and drinks
• Avoiding extremely spicy foods
• Using a desensitizing toothpaste
• Taking over-the-counter pain medication

If your symptoms persist or worsen, contact your provider right away.

How long do tooth fillings last?

The length of time that tooth fillings last depend on your commitment to good oral hygiene. Most composite resin fillings last 10-15 years*, but it’s possible to extend their lifespan. 

Central Avenue Dental recommends you brush your teeth twice daily, floss before going to bed at night, and visit the office every six months for an oral exam and professional teeth cleaning.

To learn more about the benefits of tooth fillings, make an appointment at Central Avenue Dental by calling the nearest office or scheduling online today.