Modern dentistry combines beauty and strength when filling teeth. Fillings are one of the most common procedures done in the dental office. As with any procedure, patient comfort is always the main priority of the dental team, leading to positive experiences.
Fillings (restorations) are used to replace tooth structure that is decayed. Dental caries can be detected through direct observation or x-rays. Fillings are also used to repair fractured, broken, or severely worn teeth.
When a filling is done, the dentist removes the decay from the tooth and shapes the final cavity. Composite-resin filling material is applied and cured (hardened) with a curing light. The final step is polishing the filling to adapt it to the natural shape of the tooth.
Dentists monitor the integrity of your fillings during regular exams and will recommend replacing a filling if a problem is detected. Fillings can develop cracks or simply wear down due to chewing forces.
