Fillings
Need a Tooth Filling?
If you have a tooth that’s broken, cracked, or decaying — a filling can repair it. Once your tooth filling is complete, you’ll be back to chewing on your favourite foods like normal.
Different filling materials are available, depending on the severity of decay. Your dentist will also consider which part of your tooth needs a filling and what your budget is.
Types of fillings
At ThirtyTwo Dental, we have two common filling materials — these are amalgam and composite.
Amalgam: This dental filling material has been used for decades. Amalgam is made of various metallic elements, which makes it durable and ideal for use on molars. Keep in mind, when the tooth filling is complete, amalgam is a dark colour and noticeable.
Composite: This type of filling is made of a plastic substance called acrylic resin that is reinforced with powdered glass quartz, silica, or other ceramic particles. It is white in colour, making it more aesthetically pleasing since it matches the natural tooth colour. Composite fillings are a great option, offering great aesthetics and durability.
Tooth-filling Procedure
At ThirtyTwo Dental, we’ll carefully evaluate your needs before recommending a filling treatment. Once an assessment is done, this is the step-by-step procedure you can anticipate:
Anesthesia: Before the actual tooth-filling procedure, our dentist will give you anesthesia to numb the area around the affected tooth and keep the patient relaxed during treatment.
Tooth decay removal: Your dentist will clear the disease and then shape the tooth and ready it for filling — Don’t worry, we will always check in to make sure you don’t feel a thing.
Tooth etching: Before the filling application, your tooth will be prepared by etching with an acid gel. This helps the filling material bond to your tooth properly.
Resin application: Here, your dentist applies the filling material, layer by layer, and hardens it by using a special blue light.
Shaping: Once filled, your dentist then shapes the filling to ensure the form functions properly and fits with the rest of your teeth.
Polishing: The final step is to polish your new filling, so it looks as good as new.
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Dr. Jaimee Buchkowsky, DDS
This content was written by Dr. Jaimee Buchkowsky, who brings over 15 years of experience to her practice. Dr. Buchkowsky holds both a Bachelor of Medical Science and a Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Alberta.