If you have a cavity, you need to make an appointment with your dentist. Before you do, however, understand that you will probably need a filling. Here’s what a filling is and what types are available.
What Is a Dental Filling?
Getting a dental filling in Baltimore City is not a difficult process. In fact, fillings are one of the procedures that dentists perform the most.
Tooth fillings involve the dentist removing the part of the tooth that has decayed. There are various methods that the dentist can use to accomplish this. These include using drills, lasers, and air abrasion tools.
Once the dentist has removed the decay thoroughly, he or she cleans the area and then fills it with a safe material to protect the exposed tooth.
While this process might sound painful, the most uncomfortable portions of the process don’t hurt because the dentist numbs the patient’s mouth with local anesthetic.
What Types of Fillings Are Available?
If you’re looking for a Baltimore City dental filling, know that there are many different types of fillings to choose from such as gold, porcelain, amalgams, composites, plastics, and even glass ionomer.
There are two major criteria involved when deciding what type of filling to use. The first criterion, which type of dental filling will be best suited to fixing your dental problem in the practical sense, is largely up to the dentist. Dentists spend many years perfecting their filling techniques and understand the pros and cons of each material in different situations.
The second criterion, aesthetics, requires the patient’s input. Depending on where the cavity is, the filling may be visible when the patient’s mouth is open. For many patients, this means that they prefer a tooth-colored solution. Your dentist can help you find the option or combination of options that suits your preferences.
