What is a tooth filling?

A tooth filling is a great way to restore damaged or decaying teeth. Fillings can bring teeth back to their normal shape and function without the need for more complicated treatments, like a root canal procedure or a tooth extraction. In addition, tooth fillings can be a cosmetic way to change the shape, size, or color of your teeth and enhance your smile.

What happens when I get a tooth filled?

Your dentist uses a local anesthetic to numb the area around the tooth to ensure your comfort throughout the procedure.

Following this, a drill to remove the decayed area. Once all the debris is taken out, tooth is restored with filling material to restore tooth structure to function.

How can I tell if I have a cavity?

Cavities are the most common reason you would need a filling. Cavities can be hard to spot until the decayed area becomes large enough to view.

Even though it’s tough to spot a cavity right away, there are multiple symptoms to watch out for, including:

• Dark spots

• Tooth pain

• Bad breath

• Bad taste in your mouth

• Tooth sensitivity

In order to make sure your cavity is caught early, it’s important to keep up-to-date with routine dental checkups.