There are different composite filling materials to choose from, and you and your dentist should decide which one best suits your needs. Early detection of cavities is the best way to treat them, as many can be filled without the need of drilling or needles cosmetic.
What Steps Are Involved in Filling a Tooth?
First, the dentist will numb the area around the tooth to be worked on with a local anesthetic. Next, a drill, air abrasion instrument or laser will be used to remove the decayed area. The choice of instrument depends on the individual dentist's comfort level, training, and investment in the particular piece of equipment as well as location and extent of the decay.
Next, your dentist will probe or test the area during the decay removal process to determine if all the decay has been removed. Once the decay has been removed, your dentist will prepare the space for the filling by cleaning the cavity of bacteria and debris. If the decay is near the root, your dentist may first put in a liner made of glass ionomer, composite resin, or other material to protect the nerve. Generally, after the filling is in, your dentist will finish and polish it.
Several additional steps are required for tooth-colored fillings and are as follows. After your dentist has removed the decay and cleaned the area, the tooth-colored material is applied in layers. Next, a special light that "cures" or hardens each layer is applied. When the multilayering process is completed, your dentist will shape the composite material to the desired result, trim off any excess material and polish the final restoration.
What Types of Filling Materials Are Available?
Today, several dental filling materials are available. Teeth can be filled with gold; porcelain; silver amalgam (which consists of mercury mixed with silver, tin, zinc, and copper); or tooth-colored, plastic and glass materials called composite resin fillings. The location and extent of the decay, cost of filling material, patients' insurance coverage and your dentist's recommendation assist in determining the type of filling that will best address your needs.
New Articles by Dr. Harish Rathi
After getting a big WOW in the Information Technology industry worldwide, India is getting a
big boom in Medical Industry. The concept of medical tourism is flourishing in India gradu-ally."India has the
potential to welcome over a million medical tourists annually," says the Con-federation of Indian Industry
(CII).According to a study by the Confederation of Indian Industry, Medical tourism in India could become a $1 billion
business by 2012.
Of course, in India, cost dif-ference is the major selling point in this sector.
