Dental Fillings in South Houston, TX

Whether pain brought you to the dentist or regular dental x-rays discovered a cavity in one of your teeth during a regular cleaning, a restoration (or filling) will need to be placed. Fillings are placed to keep the decay in the tooth from spreading further, which could require a more involved and possibly more expensive procedure.

A filling can be used on cracked, broken, or worn-down tooth, depending on the extent of the damage. Fillings close off the damaged area to keep bacteria from entering. Bacteria entering the body through a tooth can not only cause tooth pain but can move on to a bigger infection.

Fillings are available in many types of materials. The best one for you depends on your color preference and probably the cost involved. Our dentist can help you decide:

• Porcelain: Porcelain fillings (also called inlays or onlays) are produced in a lab. These fillings are bonded to the tooth, matched to the original tooth color, and resist staining. This type of restoration cost similar to gold fillings, and they cover most of the tooth.
• Composite (plastic): Composite is a plastic filling that is matched to your original teeth color. The composite only lasts three to ten years, as they are prone to chip and wear, especially when used for large fillings. They are also known to stain easier than other types.
• Silver (amalgam): Silver fillings are relatively inexpensive and resistant to wear but are darker in color than others. Silver is used mainly on the back teeth, as they are more noticeable than composite or porcelain.
• Gold: Gold fillings can last up to 20 years, but they are the most expensive.

Knowing that you need to have a filling can be scary, but knowing what will happen ahead of time can lessen the anxiety. The dentist will numb the area around the tooth to be filled with a local anesthetic. Then, a drill or air abrasion instrument is used to take out the decay (the cavity). The hole where the decay was removed is cleaned and prepared for the filling material. After the filling is placed, it will be polished and checked for high spots to be sure it meets with the opposite tooth naturally for chewing.

Call EZ Dental Clinic for an appointment today.