Dental Fillings

Composite fillings are made from a special dental resin. They are designed to mimic the natural look and feel of your enamel, and can be matched to a variety of tooth colors, providing a seamless appearance. Not only that, but they also bond very tightly to your natural enamel, and typically require the removal of less enamel compared to metal fillings, making them a great option for restoring decayed teeth.

The process of getting a dental filling takes about an hour, and is minimally invasive. Our dentist in Holden will begin by cleaning your mouth and numbing the treatment area. Once your mouth is numb, he will use a dental drill to prepare your tooth by removing decayed or damaged enamel. Next, he will clean and disinfect the tooth.

Once the tooth has been prepared, Dr. Khanani will select a composite material that matches your tooth. Then, he will apply it to your tooth layer-by-layer, rebuilding the natural structure and appearance of your tooth. Once this is done, a curing light is used to harden the resin. Finally, the filling will be trimmed, adjusted and polished to ensure it looks and feels perfect.

Over time, all dental fillings fail. They become worn-down, pull away from the tooth, and can contribute to further decay if they are not replaced. Depending on the material used in your filling, it could last anywhere from 10-30 years.

Wondering if your old dental fillings need to be replaced? The best way to find out is with a consultation at Khanani Family Dental. Usually, it’s impossible to tell if an old filling is failing on your own. But at our office, Dr. Khanani can perform a close-up inspection of your fillings, and take x-rays to see if they’re in good shape.

If your fillings do need to be replaced, the process is relatively simple. Once your mouth has been cleaned and numbed, Dr. Khanani will cut the filling into smaller pieces, and remove them from your tooth piece-by-piece. Then, the tooth will be cleaned up and prepared, and Dr. Khanani will place a brand-new tooth-colored filling to restore your smile.

No. The filling process is minimally-invasive. Dr. Khanani will need to use a dental drill to gently remove some of the enamel from your tooth, but this is done under local numbing. Dr. Khanani will use numbing spray and numbing injections to completely numb the nerves below your tooth. This ensures that you don’t experience any pain or discomfort.

Your filling won’t hurt after your appointment, either. Your new filling may feel a little sensitive or tender for a few days, and some patients may experience some sensitivity to heat, cold, or pressure for a few weeks. But this is normal, and will fade as you adjust to your new filling.

If you do continue to experience discomfort after 3-4 weeks, contact Khanani Family Dental for a follow-up. It’s possible the filling may be too high and is not contacting your other teeth correctly. Dr. Khanani may need to adjust the filling to make sure it fits into your bite properly.

At Khanani Family Dental, we exclusively use composite dental fillings. This type of filling is made from a durable blend of resin and glass particles. Dental composite looks and feels natural, and is very durable. You can expect your dental fillings to last between 5-8 years, and composite fillings can even last a decade or longer with proper care.

The most important thing to do if you want to preserve your dental filling is to take proper care of your teeth by brushing twice a day and flossing once per day. Further decay around or underneath the filling is a common cause of premature filling failure, so make sure to maintain good oral hygiene, eat a healthy diet, and drink plenty of tap water.

You should also see Dr. Khanani every six months for an oral exam and teeth cleaning. At your appointment, Dr. Khanani will check your teeth and your dental work to make sure that everything looks good. If he notices an issue with one of your fillings, such as a filling that’s peeling away, he can schedule a follow-up and make sure you get the treatment you need to keep your tooth healthy.

If you don’t treat a cavity, it will probably get worse. Even if you maintain excellent oral hygiene and do everything you can to prevent the cavity from getting bigger, it won’t make a difference.

This is because of the structure of cavities. A cavity is a hole or pit in your tooth. It’s more difficult to clean inside a hole than it is to clean the outside of your tooth. Not only that, but food particles and bacteria will tend to collect inside a cavity, which leads to further tooth decay.

If you don’t get a filling for your cavity, it will get bigger and you may end up needing a crown, which requires the removal of more of your natural tooth and is a more expensive procedure. Your tooth could even become infected, and require root canal therapy.

So if you suspect that you may have a cavity, don’t wait. The sooner you get help at Khanani Family Dental, the simpler it will be to treat your cavity, restore your smile, and get you back to your normal, day-to-day life.