Think you may need a tooth filling in Peoria? A tooth gets damaged from decay when proper oral care habits are not kept. This allows the bacteria that live in plaque to remain on the teeth surface, where they produce acids that can attack the teeth enamel. When this happens, a cavity forms and will need to be treated with a dental filling to prevent any further damage.
Benefits of Dental Fillings in Peoria
A dental filling restores a damaged tooth back to its normal shape and function. It prevents further decay by closing off spaces where bacteria can enter. This usually avoids the need for a root canal in the future.
Dental Fillings Peoria, AZ
Dental fillings can be made of a variety of materials, such as gold, amalgam (metal), and composite. At Plaza Family Dental in Peoria, Arizona, we utilize ceramic dental fillings, which are often made of porcelain. This material is more resistant to staining than composite resin material and can last more than 15 years.
To place a dental filling, the area around the tooth to be filled will be numbed with a local anesthetic. The dentist will remove the decayed area using a drill, air abrasion instrument, or laser. Once all the decay has been removed, the tooth will be cleaned and filled. The tooth-colored material will be applied in layers, with a special light being applied after each layer to cure or harden, it. After all the layers have been applied, the dentist will trim the material to the desired shape, remove any excess material, and polish the final restoration.
Good oral hygiene should ensure the use of tooth fillings for years to come.