Make Teeth Look and Feel Natural Again
If you’re dealing with cavities or damaged teeth, composite dental fillings can restore your teeth’s natural beauty and functionality.
These fillings not only address cavities and cracks, but they also prevent future pain and protect against potential infections. Made from composite resin, these fillings blend seamlessly with the natural color of your teeth. Unlike amalgam (metal) fillings, composite resin adheres better to teeth and requires less drilling, allowing us to fill smaller spaces more efficiently.
Why Are Teeth Fillings So Important?
While it might be tempting to delay getting a tooth filling, especially if your cavities aren’t causing pain yet, addressing them early is crucial for your overall dental health. Here’s why:
- Prevent Cavities from Growing: Fillings stop cavities from getting larger, preventing more extensive damage to your tooth.
- Avoid Painful Infections: If left untreated, cavities can lead to painful infections or abscesses. Fillings help avoid these issues.
- Strengthen Your Teeth: Cavities weaken your teeth, but composite fillings restore their strength and durability.
- Save Money in the Long Run: Early treatment with fillings can help you avoid more expensive procedures later, saving you money.
- Reduce Sensitivity: Fillings can reduce tooth sensitivity to hot and cold, making eating and drinking more comfortable.
- Maintain a Natural Smile: Tooth-coloured fillings blend with your natural teeth, preserving the appearance of your smile.
By addressing cavities early with fillings, you’re taking steps to protect both the health and appearance of your smile.
How is a Cavity Filled?
Numbing the Area
The process begins by numbing the gum tissue around the affected tooth. This ensures you won’t feel any discomfort during the procedure. Although this step might cause some anxiety, it is very effective at numbing the area, so you won’t feel any pain while we work.
Preparing the Tooth
Once the area is numb, we clean the tooth thoroughly to remove any decay. We then apply an adhesive gel, followed by the composite resin, which is carefully shaped to match the contours of your tooth and ensure it fits comfortably with your bite.
Setting the Filling
The composite resin is then hardened and bonded to your tooth using a special LED light. After the filling is set, the dentist will examine the tooth, make any necessary adjustments, and polish the filling. This ensures the filling blends seamlessly with your natural teeth and feels comfortable.
The Cost of Composite Fillings in Guelph
Most insurance plans cover a significant portion of the cost for composite fillings, making them an affordable solution for many patients. With insurance, you can expect to pay between $0 and $100 or slightly more. If you don’t have dental insurance, the cost typically ranges from $120 to $300, depending on the number of fillings needed.
What Determines the Cost of Composite Fillings?
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Several factors influence the final cost of your treatment, including:
- Your current oral health: The overall condition of your teeth and gums can affect the complexity and cost of treatment.
- Number of fillings needed: More fillings will result in a higher total cost.
- Cavity location: The position of the cavity in your mouth can influence the difficulty and time required for the procedure.
- Need for new X-rays: Additional imaging may be necessary to properly assess and treat the cavities.
- Time required: The length of the procedure, depending on your specific needs, impacts the cost.
- Equipment and supplies: The materials and tools needed for treatment are also factored into the cost.
Addressing cavities early with composite fillings is essential for preventing more invasive treatments and avoiding severe dental pain. Taking a proactive approach helps maintain excellent oral health and overall well-being.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
With regular brushing, flossing, and dental cleanings and checkups, fillings can last well beyond ten years. Proper care is key to ensuring their longevity and maintaining your oral health.
In the past, dental amalgam (commonly known as silver or mercury fillings) was widely used. Despite ongoing debates about safety, the Canadian Dental Association assures that scientific research has not found any connection between amalgam fillings and illness in the general population. If you have silver fillings, there is no cause for concern.
Over-the-counter products might offer a temporary fix for minor tooth damage or cavities, but they are not a long-term solution. Cavities are permanent tooth damage that requires professional dental care. Failing to properly treat cavities can lead to serious problems, including tooth loss, abscesses, and severe infections.
Severe dental pain that affects your ability to eat or sleep should be treated as a dental emergency. Contact us immediately for advice and an urgent appointment. For temporary relief:
- Apply a cold compress to the affected area.
- Take pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil), following the instructions on the medication.
- Keep track of the medication you take, the dosage, and the time of intake to inform us during your visit.
Tooth sensitivity after getting a composite filling usually fades within four weeks. If the sensitivity persists or doesn’t improve, please contact your dentist for further evaluation.
White fillings (also known as tooth-coloured fillings) are made from a composite resin, which is a blend of silica and plastic. This material is designed to mimic the natural color and appearance of your teeth, providing both aesthetic appeal and functionality.
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