Teeth are essential for maintaining your natural appearance and chewing ability. When you have teeth problems, like cavities, they can affect your daily life. At Boise Family Dental Care in Boise, ID, we are your trusted partner in dental care. Our staff is well-trained, professional and kind. If you fear going to the dentist, our staff’s kindness will melt the anxiety away. We treat cavities with dental fillings to prevent further damage to your teeth.
Causes and Symptoms of Cavities
Understand what causes cavities and their symptoms to help prevent them.
Causes of Cavities
Tooth decay causes cavities. Decay happens when plaque forms on teeth from eating sugar and starches and not cleaning them thoroughly. Bacteria feed on these sugars, releasing acid that causes plaque and erodes the teeth’s hard enamel. As decay happens, the bacteria and acid go to the inner tooth, making it swollen and irritated. The inflammation can then affect nerves, causing pain.
Symptoms of Cavities
Some symptoms of cavities include:
What Is a Dental Filling?
Dental fillings prevent further damage to decaying teeth. When we perform a cavity filling, we clean the tooth, remove the bacteria and close off the hole with a dental filling. Adding fillings to the hole cuts off the bacteria’s access and avoids further decay.
Don't Wait — Get the Care You Need
The sooner we see you, the more options we have. Give us a call or schedule online.
Types of Materials Used for Dental Fillings
Several dental filling materials are available. The material we use depends on the tooth’s location, the extent of the decay and your budget. Some dental fillings we have include:
Metal Fillings
Metal fillings are common and include gold and silver. Many people prefer the appearance of gold over silver when choosing metal fillings, even if gold may cost 10 times more than silver. Metal fillings are more durable than composite materials and can endure chewing forces, potentially lasting 10 to 15 years.
Keep in mind that gold fillings come with several considerations: They are expensive and require at least two visits to the dentist’s office to install. If placed near a tooth with silver amalgam, they may cause galvanic shock, although this is rare.
Silver Amalgam Fillings
Amalgam fillings are the most used and most researched. They consist of a combination of metals and are visible when you laugh. They are strong and used to fill cavities at the back of the mouth where chewing occurs. These fillings are the most affordable of all types.
Some things to consider with these cavity dental fillings include:
Composite Fillings
Composite dental fillings are a combination of glass and resin fillers made to match your teeth color. They are relatively durable and suitable for small to mid-sized restorations in moderate chewing areas.
Some of the advantages of composite dental fillings include:
You’ll have to spend more time in the chair with composite fillings, as they take longer than amalgams. Composite fillings are also less durable than amalgams — they last five years, while amalgams last between 10 and 15 years. They can also be more expensive — up to twice the cost of amalgams — and require more than one visit to the dentist’s office if you want inlays or onlays.
Other Dental Fillings
We also have other dental fillings, like glass ionomer and ceramics. Ceramic fillings are made of porcelain and are more resistant to staining than resin materials. They last up to 15 years and can be as expensive as gold cast fillings.
Glass ionomer combines several materials, including acrylic and a glass powder. It is used in fillings below the gum and for small children and can last five years. Glass ionomer releases fluoride, which helps prevent further tooth decay.
The Dental Filling Procedure
Preparing for a dental filling procedure is relatively easy. We will start with an exam to assess your dental health, helping us understand your needs and determine what method and materials to use. At Boise Family Dental Care, we will ensure you know all the steps in the process and keep you fully informed and comfortable throughout.
Steps in the Cavity Filling Procedure
Here’s how the cavity-filling process works:
1
Assessment
We will assess the tooth’s health and your general oral health. You will choose your dental filling material based on durability, budget and tooth location.
2
Numbing for comfort
Many people are anxious about visiting the dentist, and this is the most crucial step in making them comfortable. We will apply a pre-numbing gel to the area and use a syringe to inject an anesthetic, which takes about five minutes to kick in. Once you’re numb and comfortable, we will proceed with the procedure.
3
Decay removal
We will remove the decaying areas, which are soft black or brown patches on the tooth. We can use several methods, such as a spoon excavator or a high-speed drill that also shapes the tooth. We double-check that we have removed all the decay with a caries indicator solution.
4
Filling placement
After ensuring the tooth is clean, we will place the filling you chose.
Settings: The filling material must set — some materials need more time than others. For example, amalgam fillings take a few minutes, while composite fillings need an LED lamp to cure.
5
Adjustments and bite alignment
We will adjust your bite after the filling material hardens. These adjustments are essential to ensure your bite pattern remains unchanged to prevent discomfort when biting or chewing.
6
Polishing and finishing
We then polish the restoration to give it a glossy feel and look.
Get Dental Fillings in Boise, ID
Boise Family Dental Care offers same-day crowns, caring staff and a welcoming environment to alleviate your anxiety. We provide you with personalized dental care in Boise. If your dental filling fell out, call us at
208-376-7413 for an emergency dental appointment. You can also
schedule an appointment online to get your cavity filled.
