Fillings Determining If You Need a Filling Your dentist may use several methods to determine if you have tooth decay, including: Observation — Some discolored spots on your teeth may indicate decay, but not all of them. Your dentist will use an explorer, a metal instrument with a sharp tip, for a more thorough examination of possible decay. Healthy tooth enamel is hard and will resist pressure by the explorer. Decayed enamel is softer and the instrument will stick in it slightly. Cavity-detecting dye — This can be rinsed over your tooth. It will stick to decayed areas and rinse cleanly from healthy ones. X-rays — X-rays can help your dentist see decay that doesn't show on the surface. However, X-rays are often not accurate in detecting smaller cavities, and existing fillings or other restorations can block the view of decay. Decay is not the only reason you may need a filling. Cracked or broken teeth, or teeth that are worn from unusual use — such as nail-biting, tooth grinding (bruxism), or using your teeth to open things — may also need fillings.

Offers good for NEW PATIENTS ONLY. All offers are cash or your insurance may cover it at full value. Offers good for 60 days from date of receipt.

Steps to a Filling When you visit your dentist to get a filling, you will be given local anesthesia to numb the area if necessary. Next, your dentist will remove decay from the tooth, using hand instruments or a drill. A drill, which dentists call a hand-piece, uses metal cones called burs to cut through the enamel and remove the decay. Burs come in many shapes and sizes, and your dentist will choose the ones that are right for the size and location of your decay. At first, your dentist will use a high speed drill to cut through the hard enamel. He or she will precisely outline the cavity with the drill, removing only enough tooth material so the filling material can be placed properly. Once the drill reaches the dentin, or second layer of the tooth, the dentist may use a lower speed drill because dentin is softer than enamel. To clean out the decay, your dentist may use a round bur. Throughout the removal process, your dentist will test the area with the explorer to see if all the decay has been removed. A cavity-detecting dye may also be used. Dentists do not use color to judge whether all the decay has been removed. Not all cavities are discolored, and discolored enamel can be healthy. Once all the decay is removed, your dentist will shape the space to prepare it for the filling. Different types of fillings require different shaping procedures to make sure they will stay in place. Your dentist may put in a base or a liner to protect the tooth's pulp (where the nerves are). The base or liner is made of glass ionomer, which releases fluoride to protect the tooth from further decay. If your dentist is placing a bonded filling, he or she will etch (prepare) the tooth with an acid gel before placing the filling. Etching makes tiny holes in the tooth's enamel surface, which allows the filling material to bond tightly to the tooth. Bonded fillings can reduce sensitivity and reduce the risk of leakage or decay under the filling because the etched surface of the tooth and the filling material form a mechanical bond. Bonding is generally done with composite fillings. It can also be done with amalgam materials. If you are getting a light-set, composite-resin filling or a resin-bonded glass ionomer filling, your dentist will stop several times to shine a bright blue light on the resin. This cures (hardens) the material and makes it strong. Finally, after the filling is placed, your dentist will use burs to finish and polish the tooth. Why Replace a Filling? Fillings don't last forever. They can become discolored. For example, amalgam or silver fillings corrode and tarnish, while composite, tooth-colored fillings pick up stains, and yellow or darken over time. When you chew, your teeth and any fillings in them are subjected to tremendous pressures. Even if no other problems develop, some fillings will wear out over time and will need to be replaced. A filling will need to be replaced earlier if it falls out, leaks or cracks. A filling that is cracked or leaking can allow food debris and bacteria in your mouth to seep down under the filling. Since you can't clean there, the bacteria feed on the food debris and form the acid that causes tooth decay. Decay under a filling can become extensive before you notice it or it causes you pain. This can be prevented by having your fillings checked regularly and getting them replaced when problems are found. When to Call a Professional If there are any areas in your mouth with sensitivity to hot, cold, or chewing, a filling may need to be replaced or a cavity filled. Please call (408) 260-0200 to take advantage of our promotions and schedule an exam and have x-rays taken in order to determine if there is a cavity or if there is something else causing the sensitivity..

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Meet Dr. Kostantinos Pries

Dr. Kostantinos Pries received his Bachelors degree Cum Laude in General Biology with a concentration in Systems Physiology from San Jose State University in 2002. He pursued his dental education at the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry and received his D.D.S. in 2005. His interest in learning and continuing his education in General Dentistry led him to complete a General Practice Residency at the San Francisco Veteran’s Affairs Hospital.

Dr. Pries enjoys all aspects of General Dentistry with a focus on restorative and cosmetic dentistry and high quality comprehensive dental care. He is familiar with many of the latest techniques including white fillings, veneers, implants. [more]

 

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Pries Dental Care
4110 Moorpark Avenue, Suite C
San Jose, CA 95117
Phone: (408) 260-0200
www.priesdental.com


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