Fillings and Sealants
Fillings and sealants serve an important part in your dental health. They area highly used and common dental services to restore teeth after decay and cavities have damaged all or part of the teeth.
Tooth Fillings and Sealants
Cavities are one of the most common dental problems. Even with good oral hygiene and regular dental cleanings, it’s still possible for decay to eat into your tooth enamel. Fortunately, repairing cavities often involves no more than tooth fillings, one of the most common dental treatments. We use tooth-colored composite fillings instead of amalgam fillings, which contain metal as well as mercury and other elements. Because we can match them to the color of the rest of your teeth, our metal-free fillings blend easily into your smile.
The best way to deal with cavities is to prevent them from occurring in the first place. We recommend visiting our office every six months for dental cleanings. Our hygienists will remove plaque and bacteria from your teeth using instruments that make it simple to get into hidden spots that are easy to miss when brushing and flossing at home. We may also recommend additional general dental care like dental sealants to help prevent decay.
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How do dental fillings for cavities work?
Fillings restore the tooth’s structure to a healthy condition–essentially filling in the decayed or ruined portion of the tooth.
Fillings are made of a material that can restore strength, be flexed to fit the tooth’s shape, and is strong enough to restore function. Sometimes, fillings are colored, and other times, they are not.
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How much does a filling cost?
The cost of a dental filling varies by dental. Practice, but on average, you can expect to pay between $200 and $600 per filling.
Cost depends upon a few factors, including cavity size, the number of filings needed, the material used for the filling, and the types of teeth that need the filling.
It is important to remember that even if you don’t have dental insurance, a delayed filling will cause more damage to the tooth and likely a lot more pain the longer you wait.
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What types of tooth fillings are available?
There are multiple types of tooth fillings available. Your dentist will have his or her reasons for using certain types of fillings–and some of it also depends upon the location and size of your cavity.
Amaigam fillings are the more old-fashioned silver fillings made from medals. They last a long time and are very durable. They are also less expensive.
Composite Resin fillings are white and widely used simply because they are less noticeable. They also bond directly to the tooth’s surface so they can be easily shaped.
Gold fillings are also called inlays or onlays and are typically used in areas of the mouth that have significant pressure.
Porcelain fillings, also known as inlays or onlyas, are custom-made in a dental laboratory and are resistant to staining.
Glass Ionomer fillings are made from glass and are usually used in temporary situations or areas with minimal chewing.
More Questions?
If you have more questions about fillings and sealants, or if you would like to schedule an appointment or contact our office and we will be happy to discuss further.
