Fillings are exactly what the word means to ‘fill’. This is to fill a hole in the tooth caused by tooth decay or in some cases damaged such a broken tooth.
The longer you wait to get a cavity fixed, the bigger the hole and more work that needs to be done to the tooth. This is why regular check ups every 6 months are so important. At Mews House Dental, we want to prevent problems occurring.
If treatment is not sought for the tooth, then this can lead to intense toothache, infection, bad breath and in severe cases the tooth will be unrepairable.
Fillings are made from different materials. Your dentist will advise you on which one to go for. Composite fillings (white fillings) are the most natural and aesthetic pleasing. We do not recommend metal fillings for many reasons which your dentist will go through. Nowadays more people are changing their silver filling to white fillings.
Inlays and overlays are suitable for back teeth and large chewing surfaces. Inlays fit the hole in your tooth, whereas overlays build up the shape of your tooth.
If you have a tooth cavity that is very deep or your tooth is damaged, this will need root canal treatment to avoid the tooth being removed. This is sometimes called a ‘root canal fillings’, which is very different from the normal fillings.
Only one dental appointment is needed, however, dental anaesthetic is required.
After your appointment, the local anaesthetic will make your lips, gums, tongue and cheek feel numb. Until this wears off, please refrain from eating and drinking. As soon as the anaesthetic wears off this, you can go back to eating and drinking with some caution.
It is advisable to avoid chewing on the side of the filling for a few days to allow the filling to settle and to prevent biting yourself.
The first step would be for the dentist to clean the tooth and remove any decay. You will be given an option to numb the area first with a local anaesthetic injection.
Once the tooth is cleaned and dried then the tooth can proceed to be filled. At this point, the cavity will be filled with a composite filling.
Our dentists will ensure that your bite feels right and everything is fine in that area before your filling is complete.
With the latest technology we are one of the few practices in Hertfordshire to offer The Wand. This is a computerised tool which is like a pen which offers targeted anaesthetic to the area required. The Wand gives you pain free anaesthetic compared to conventional injections.
Benefits of using The Wand include:
As long as you take care of your teeth and gums, fillings can last around 10 years. Inlays and overlays can last for up to 20 years.
Temporary fillings will only last for up to 3 months, but really it should be replaced before then.
The cost of one filling can range from £80-200.00 dependent on the position of the filling and complexity. This will be discussed with you before your treatment starts.
