Dental Fillings

A filling is a dental term for the sturdy material used to “fill” the area of a tooth that has recently had decay removed because of a cavity. The damaged tooth would be too sensitive and would be vulnerable to more decay without some sort of protective covering. Dental fillings take the place of the part of the tooth that is no longer around. After removing the decay in your tooth, Dr. Pinson will prep the area to ensure the filling material bonds well with the remaining portion of the tooth.

Dental fillings are visible when we open our mouths, of course, so it’s understandable to wonder how your tooth will look with a filling. The good news is there are several options when it comes to the materials used in this treatment. Perhaps the most popular option is to make your tooth look like the filling isn’t there at all.

Tooth-Colored Fillings

Dr. Pinson can fill your tooth with a material that will match the color and texture of your other teeth, giving your smile a natural appearance that makes it hard to see the filling, even up close. The materials used to make tooth-colored fillings are durable and will hold up to pressure from chewing, and should last for many years. Tooth-colored, or resin composite fillings are a relatively recent and excellent development in dentistry. Adults that had cavities in childhood were typically given silver amalgam fillings. More often than not, those fillings are no longer holding up and need to be replaced. Resin fillings are the perfect opportunity to select an option that blends right in with your other teeth.

Types of Fillings

Silver amalgam is the most common type of material used to fill teeth, but the metallic look isn’t the only option. Gold fillings were once very popular and are still used today. 

Is Getting a Filling an Urgent Dental Procedure? Will I Need an Emergency Dentist?

Filling a cavity isn’t usually a crisis situation, but it is a problem you’ll want to address before your tooth gets worse. Most of the time, a cavity is discovered during a routine dental checkup, either when the cavity appears on an X-ray or when the dentist or hygienist sees an issue. The procedure usually takes less than an hour, depending on the extent of the cavity or if the decay is below an existing filling that also needs to be replaced. If you’re feeling pain in your tooth or your tooth breaks, give us a call right away. We offer emergency dental services, and we’ll want to help you as soon as we can.

If you have any questions feel free to contact our office via phone, email, or schedule an appointment online.