Fillings Specialist
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2222 Dental
General Dentists & Comprehensive, Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry located in Austin, TX
Preventing cavities can be easy, but it isn’t always possible. If you get a cavity, the dental experts at 2222 Dental in Austin, Texas, can repair it and prevent new cavities from developing thanks to a tooth-colored dental filling. For more information about cavities and fillings, call 2222 Dental or book an appointment online today.
Fillings Q & A
What are fillings?
Fillings are routine dental repairs for teeth with cavities, or tooth decay. Traditionally, dentists used silver fillings to repair cavities and reinforce the tooth’s strength. Today, at 2222 Dental, the team uses tooth-colored composite resin fillings that aren’t as apparent in your mouth.
Tooth-colored fillings are made of composite resin, a mixture of glass and plastic particles that hardens to become solid and durable. The team at 2222 Dental can match the composite resin in your filling to the exact shade of your tooth.
Overall, patients prefer tooth-colored fillings over traditional silver fillings because they’re long-lasting, look natural, and are very easy to repair if you break them. They also require less tooth enamel removal in preparation for their placement.
How can I tell if I need a filling?
There are many signs and symptoms that indicate tooth decay. Since many of them overlap with symptoms of other complications, you should get a dental exam if you suspect that you have a cavity. You might have a cavity if you notice one or more of these signs:
- Throbbing tooth pain
- Pain when you bite down
- Severe sensitivity to certain temperatures or tastes
- A fractured tooth
- A tooth with rough texture
- Dark spots or holes in your teeth
Tooth decay can be sneaky and doesn’t always cause symptoms. The team at 2222 Dental checks each of your teeth for signs of decay at your regular exams. You can greatly reduce your chances of needing a filling by attending these appointments, brushing your teeth thoroughly and often, and limiting sugary foods and drinks in your diet.
How are fillings placed?
A tooth-colored filling requires just one appointment. When you come to 2222 Dental for your treatment, the team carefully removes all decayed parts of the tooth without harming the healthy parts of your tooth. Then, they sanitize, rinse, and dry the tooth.
They take the color-matched composite resin and apply it to the tooth layer by layer. After painting on a layer, they harden the resin with an intense light before applying the next layer. Once there is enough bonding material in place to fill the cavity, they trim away the excess and polish it to blend in with the luster of your natural tooth.
Find out if you need a filling or a filling repair by calling 2222 Dental or by booking an appointment online today.
