Even if you take the best care of your teeth, you may occasionally find yourself with a dental cavity. These holes form when teeth are exposed to acids that wear down their enamel.
Professional dental fillings in Metairie, LA, fill the hole in your tooth to prevent the decay from spreading further and necessitating a root canal. At Dr. George P. Cerniglia, General, Cosmetic & Laser Dentistry, we offer gentle, compassionate dental fillings with a range of reliable materials. If any part of the process causes you anxiety, let us know; we’d be happy to accommodate your needs so you feel as relaxed as possible.
Comfortable and Long-Lasting Treatment for Dental Cavities
If we find a cavity during your dental exam, we’ll likely recommend a dental filling within the next few weeks. We perform dozens of fillings every week, but we also know every patient’s needs and comfort levels are different. We will take the time to walk you through this process and answer any questions you may have before your treatment.
What To Expect During a Dental Filling
Our dental fillings in Metairie, LA, typically take less than an hour to complete and follow a straightforward process. Depending on your preferences, we anesthetize the tooth with either numbing injections or nitrous oxide. This process ensures that you do not feel any pain during the filling.
Next, we remove the decayed area of the tooth with a dental drill or another handheld treatment. After cleaning the debris from the tooth, we apply the filling material of your choice.
Types of Dental Fillings We Offer
While filling techniques for teeth are generally standardized, the materials we use can vary. We offer metal and tooth-colored fillings and can explain the advantages and disadvantages of each type to you.
Our metal filling materials include:
- Amalgam: These classic “silver” fillings are made from a combination of mercury, silver, tin, and copper. They are some of the strongest and most affordable cavity fillings but are relatively noticeable.
- Cast gold: These pricier fillings consist of gold and other metals to create long-lasting solutions for tooth decay repair.
Meanwhile, we offer these tooth-colored fillings:
- Composite: Composite fillings are a popular choice for those who do not want their fillings to show. They consist of a mixture of plastic and glass that bonds to the rest of the tooth. The process requires less drilling than amalgam fillings but is a bit more expensive.
- Porcelain: These fillings use high-tech dental ceramics for a strong, lifelike, stain-resistant material.
- Glass ionomer: These translucent fillings consist of acrylic and glass powders and are inexpensive yet do not last as long as other materials.
Replace Old Dental Fillings
Dental fillings are a time-tested treatment for cavities, but dental innovations over the past few decades have significantly improved this process. If you are struggling with an old filling, we can determine whether a modern replacement makes sense.
You may want to replace old dental fillings in Metairie, LA, if:
- The filling is cracked or damaged.
- You have significant tooth pain.
- You want to replace a visible gold or silver filling with a natural-looking composite.
- You experience sensitivity when eating hot or cold foods.
We’ll discuss replacing the filling with more durable tooth restoration materials that better suit your needs. If a filling no longer solves the problem, we can explore other restorative dentistry solutions.
Dental Care for Cavity Prevention
If your teeth form cavities frequently, we will recommend good habits to prevent them, such as:
- Scheduling quarterly rather than bi-annual dental cleanings
- Using toothpaste with fluoride
- Brushing and flossing more frequently
- Avoiding certain foods and drinks
Our personalized plan can help you reduce your need for dental fillings.
Schedule Your Dental Filling in Metairie Today
Are you ready to schedule dental fillings in Metairie, LA? Allow us to make this a seamless process for you. Call Dr. George P. Cerniglia, General, Cosmetic & Laser Dentistry at (504) 454-5880 or fill out our online form to request an appointment.
Dental Fillings In Metairie, LA
If you have never had a cavity, congratulations! If you have had one, you are not alone. About 78% of us have had at least one cavity by the time we reach age 17, according to a 2000 report by the U.S. Surgeon General. Fortunately there’s a time-tested treatment for cavities: the dental filling.
Fillings do just what the name implies — seal a small hole in your tooth, i.e., a cavity, caused by decay. This prevents the decay (a bacteria-induced infection) from spreading further into your tooth and, if untreated, continuing on to the sensitive inner pulp (nerve) tissue located in the root canal. Should that happen, you would need root canal treatment.
There are a variety of materials we use to fill teeth these days, but the process of filling a tooth is similar regardless. First, we do a clinical exam of the tooth and, with x-rays, determine the extent of the decay. Then we need to remove the decayed area of the tooth, usually with a dental drill or another handheld instrument. Your tooth will be anesthetized first, so you won’t feel any discomfort. If numbing injections normally provoke anxiety for you, please let us know; we can discuss medication or the use of nitrous oxide, to help with this. After we remove the decay, all debris is cleaned from the tooth, and then the filling material is applied.
Types of Dental Fillings
Fillings can be divided into two broad categories: metal and tooth-colored. Both have advantages and disadvantages, which we would be happy to discuss in detail with you.
Metal Fillings
Amalgam — The classic “silver” filling in use for more than a century, dental amalgam is actually an alloy made up of mercury, silver, tin, and copper. The mercury combines with the other metals in the amalgam to make it stable and safe. These fillings are strong and inexpensive, but also quite noticeable. They also require relatively more tooth preparation (drilling) than other types.
Cast Gold — Among the most expensive restorative dental materials, cast gold combines gold with other metals for a very strong, long-lasting filling. It is also highly noticeable, which can be considered a plus or minus.
Tooth-Colored Fillings
Composite — A popular choice for those who don’t want their fillings to show, composite is a mixture of plastic and glass, which actually bonds to the rest of the tooth. Composites are more expensive than amalgam fillings, and these materials can hold up almost as long. Less drilling of the tooth is necessary when placing composite as compared to amalgam.
Porcelain — These high-tech dental ceramics are strong, lifelike, and don’t stain as composites can. They are sometimes more expensive than composites because they can require the use of a dental laboratory or specialized computer-generated technology. While considered the most aesthetic filling, they can also, because of their relatively high glass content, be brittle.
Glass Ionomer — Made of acrylic and glass powders, these inexpensive, translucent fillings have the advantages of blending in pretty well with natural tooth color and releasing small amounts of fluoride to help prevent decay. They don’t last as long as other restorative materials.
What to Expect After Getting a Filling
The numbness caused by your local anesthesia should wear off within a couple of hours. Until then, it’s best to avoid drinking hot or cold liquids, and eating on the side of your mouth with the new filling. Some sensitivity to hot and cold is normal in the first couple of weeks after getting a tooth filled. If it persists beyond that, or you have any actual pain when biting, please let us know. This could signal that a bite adjustment to your filling needs to be made. Continue to brush and floss as normal every day, and come in to the dental office at least twice per year for your regular checkups and cleanings. Tooth decay is a very preventable disease; with good oral hygiene and professional care, you can make your most recent cavity your last!