What are dental fillings?
We use fillings to repair baby and permanent teeth. Though your child’s baby teeth are meant to fall out, this doesn’t mean that we don’t need to address cavities and tooth decay. An untreated cavity may cause the tooth to fall out before it’s ready; this can lead to your child’s other teeth shifting their positions, contributing to overcrowding and spacing problems. Cavities can also cause extensive pain and discomfort, adversely impacting your child’s quality of life. The decay might even spread to other teeth, leading to additional cavities.
The process for filling a tooth
We complete most fillings using local anesthesia. Once your child’s mouth is numb, we’ll use a drill or other dental tool to remove any decay from the tooth. After we remove the decay, we clean the tooth to make sure that there’s no bacteria or debris left behind. We then insert the material for a filling, first laying a liner for added protection if the damage is close to the tooth’s nerve. The technique we use for placing the filling depends on the material that we use. For example, we lay composite resin in thin layers that we cure and harden with a special light. When the tooth is filled, we trim away any extra material and polish the tooth so that it looks natural.
What to expect after a filling
Fillings require no special aftercare. Your child may brush and floss their teeth like they usually do, and they’re allowed to eat and drink once their local anesthesia wears off. It’s normal for a tooth with a filling to feel sensitive to hot or cold foods and beverages or items with a lot of sugar. This sensitivity should go away within a couple of weeks.
What are the benefits?
Fillings have multiple benefits for our patients:
Prevents cavity growth
We remove the decayed part of your child’s tooth, preventing this decay from affecting their other teeth and gum tissues. Untreated cavities can cause infection and inflammation that contributes to more serious dental problems.
Improves the structure of your child’s tooth
Fillings restore your child’s tooth so that it looks and functions like normal. The material we use for fillings is durable and long-lasting, providing years of restorative protection.
Dental fillings are affordable
Fillings are a budget-conscious option for repairing your child’s damaged teeth. They’re frequently covered by dental insurance, and their long lifespan makes the treatment a smart investment in your child’s oral health.
Fillings, Queens & Brooklyn, New York
OUR TREATMENTS
Fillings are a restorative dental treatment that uses filling material (like porcelain, composite resin, or silver amalgam) to repair your child’s teeth.
