Fillings

At some point in their lives, most people end up with a cavity in one of their teeth and the most common treatment for fixing this is for your dentist to clean the decay away and fill in the area of the tooth that was damaged. This requires the use of a dental filling, a kind of dental restoration which is used to fix lightly damaged teeth and other problems associated with tooth decay. Fillings can also be used in a variety of other situations such as evening out the surface of your teeth to correct your bite or help you to chew properly.

One of the most common symptoms of tooth decay is loss of enamel, the porous layer on the outside of your teeth and this can often result in increased tooth sensitivity. Undergoing the filling procedure can usually greatly improve if not completely fix any sensitivity once the filling materials are in place. However sometimes filling your teeth won't be sufficient to correct the damage and so you may also require a number of other dental procedures including crowns, implants, bridges or a root canal treatment.

The Anatomy of your teeth

Your tooth is composed of a number of layers, the first of which is called the enamel. This is the outermost layer and is one of the hardest substances that your body produces. Underneath the gum line is a layer of cementum, this substances protects the roots of your teeth. Under these layers is where dentin is located, this substance has the hardness of bone and contains your nerve endings. As we go further into the tooth we find the dental pulp, this tissue is made up of blood vessels, nerve fibres, connective tissue and capillaries. You need your pulp in order to keep your tooth nourished and healthy as it develops, once the tooth is fully develops the pulp only functions to make us aware of any damage by transmitting pain.

The Procedure

As you undergo your regular dental check ups or have to visit your dentist in an emergency due to toothache, your dentist will thoroughly examine your gums, teeth and the bone structure which supports them. It's easy for your dentist to spot places where the surface of your teeth has been affected by damage or decay. Following your examination, the tooth in question is prepared and then any decay is removed using surgical tools or a laser before the area is thoroughly cleaned. Cleaning enables your dentist to remove any remaining bacteria and any food debris before proceeding with the filling procedure.

Before applying any material to the area your dentist must firstly isolate your tooth. This is important as it will prevent any moisture from impeding the bonding procedure which could cause serious problems. After isolation your tooth your dentist will initially apply adhesives to the affected area before placing the composite material. This will then be hardened using a special light source which encourages bonding and will leave your with a natural looking restoration.

Although using composite materials is usually more expensive than traditional types of filling, they offer great aesthetics. Many people who have had traditional amalgam fillings often go back to their dentist to have them switched for aesthetically pleasing composite fillings. The average life span of your composite fillings is between five to seven years (compared to 12 years for traditional amalgam fillings) but this can be greatly affected by your level of oral hygiene.