Dental Fillings

Dental fillings restore or repair teeth. Dentists most often use dental fillings after tooth decay or cavity removal. At Lifetime Dental Care, PLLC, in Woodbridge, Virginia, the team uses tooth-colored dental fillings to restore the function and appearance of your or your child’s tooth. Find out more about dental fillings at Lifetime Dental Care, PLLC, by calling the office or scheduling an appointment online today.

What are dental fillings?

Dental fillings are dental restorations that fill holes or cracks in the teeth, restoring function and appearance. Lifetime Dental Care, PLLC, uses composite or tooth-colored fillings. 

These types of fillings give your tooth a more natural appearance. Made from ceramic and plastic compounds, composite fillings chemically bond to the teeth like an adhesive, helping to preserve more (or most) of your natural tooth.

Amalgam fillings, or silver-colored fillings, have the same function as composite fillings; however, most people, and dentists, prefer discrete tooth-colored fillings.

When do I need dental fillings?

Your dentist at Lifetime Dental Care, PLLC, may recommend dental fillings if you have a cavity, broken tooth, or a deteriorated filling. 

The team may also use dental fillings to repair worn-down teeth from tooth grinding.

If you don’t have enough tooth structure to support a dental filling, the team may recommend an inlay or onlay. 

Inlays fill the center of the tooth, and onlays wrap around the tooth, usually including one of the cusps. The dentists at Lifetime Dental Care, PLLC, make inlays and onlays in the lab, so they match the structure of your tooth for a perfect fit.

What happens during dental fillings?

Your dentist at Lifetime Dental Care, PLLC, injects a local anesthetic into the gum surrounding the tooth in need of filling. They remove the decayed or damaged portion of your tooth to make room for the dental filling.

They place a resin over the area and cure it with a hand-held light for several seconds. Your dentist then shapes and polishes the filling.

What can I expect after dental fillings?

You may have some sensitivity to hot and cold foods and drinks for a few days following the placement of your dental filling. However, because the team at Lifetime Dental Care, PLLC, uses a curing light to set the composite filling, you can resume your usual activities and eat your regular diet afterward.

The team schedules regular follow-up visits for teeth cleanings and dental checkups. 

To schedule an appointment with the dental team that puts your needs and comfort first, call Lifetime Dental Care, PLLC, or book online today.