During your dental checkups, our expert dentists carefully inspect your teeth for brown spots or holes — indications of cavities — that may have formed since your last visit to our Little Italy office. To ensure that any decay doesn’t advance, your dentist will restore and preserve the tooth with a filling. If they spot additional damage or if there’s a missing tooth, they may recommend a dental restoration treatment to improve the function and stability of your smile.
When decay and damage are detected early, your teeth’s original structure can be preserved and protected. This helps to keep your smile healthy and camera-ready without the need for more involved treatment.
What Are Dental Fillings?
Dental fillings work to protect a tooth from cavities and restore its bite surface. Also known as tooth-colored fillings, they can also help restore the look and function of your teeth, preserving your smile’s natural beauty and supporting your lasting oral health. Fillings are available in a variety of materials, the most popular being silver amalgam or composite resin.
During your initial consultation at our office, one of our dentists will walk you through the process of getting a filling while helping you choose which material is most suitable for your case.
The Importance of Restoration and Fillings
Dental fillings come with a variety of advantages that are always exciting to our patients. Aside from restoring your smile, this treatment is also fast and easy to complete — you can be in and out of our office in just an hour.
Dental fillings also include other important benefits for your smile:
- Last up to 15 years before needing to be replaced
- Customized to match the shade of your natural teeth
- Promote tooth strength and protect from further decay
- Protects the tooth from bacterial infection
How Do Dental Fillings Work?
Our experienced staff at Dow’s Lake Dental are committed to helping you preserve your smile while ensuring your comfort during the process. At your appointment, your Downtown Ottawa dentist will determine what type of procedure and filling material is best for your case. Common restoration procedures we perform include fillings, crowns, bridges, and dental implants.
We’ll start the process by first taking an X-ray to see the extent of a cavity, providing a local anesthetic to help you stay comfortable during the procedure if needed. A dental drill is then used to treat the tooth, gently removing bacteria and decay.
Depending on your case, the dentist will use either a direct restoration or indirect restoration to apply the resin material. With a direct restoration, the dentist will apply a soft filling that quickly sets into a hard and durable material. Since it’s fast and easy, you can be in and out of our office in as little as an hour. A special light is used to cure the composite and permanently bond it to the tooth, leaving the area smooth and polished to ensure a natural feel.
If more extensive treatment is needed, the dentist may perform an indirect restoration. A customized solution is first prepared and used to create a mold in a lab. Often completed in two trips, this procedure is commonly used for crowns, onlays, and inlays. There are also a variety of materials that the dentist can use for the filling, including tooth-coloured composite resins that perfectly match the colour of your teeth!
Common Questions About Dental Fillings
The dental filling procedure is minimally painful.
Taking care of your fillings is easy. Along with regular check ups at our Downtown Ottawa office, it’s important to also practice good oral hygiene. This means brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing daily. If you notice any changes to your filling, it’s important to inform your dentist as soon as possible to look into possible solutions.
The exact cost of your treatment depends on several factors, including the severity of your case, how many fillings are required, and the materials used. We suggest contacting your dental insurance provider ahead of time to learn if your plan will cover all or a portion of your treatment costs.
Cleaning decay from your teeth and filling any cavities can prevent further damage to your smile. It’s important to start treatment as soon as possible, as untreated cavities can cause severe pain and tooth loss in extreme cases, requiring more costly and invasive treatment.
Don’t hesitate — if you haven’t visited us at Dow’s Lake Dental in over six months, or have noticed signs of tooth decay, schedule an appointment by calling (613) 406-6464 to get in touch with a professional. You can also fill out a contact form on our website. Let us help you get the healthy smile you deserve.
Complete Your Smile Today
Want a camera-ready smile that’s fit for any occasion? Dental implants can help ensure you have a lifetime of confidence and oral health. Schedule your free consultation with Dr. El-Hawary by calling our Ottawa office at (613) 406-6464. See how dental implants can help keep a smile on your face!
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