Composite Dental Fillings

At the practice of Three Sixty Dentistry, we can rid your mouth of cavities with a dental filling in Newhall, California. Our fillings are amalgam-free; instead we use composite materials or glass ionomers which can blend in with your smile while restoring tooth structure after decay removal. Come see our dentists, Dr. Brian Edwards, DDS, Dr. Amanda Jenney, and Dr. Stephanie Colletta, so they can treat your cavities.

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Gum Health Very Important For Your Teeth And Health

Why are Composite Dental Fillings a Good Choice?

A dental filling is a restoration used to repair minor to moderate tooth damage. We may recommend a filling if your tooth has been damaged by tooth decay (for example, if your tooth has a cavity), or if your tooth suffers from minor fracturing or chipping.

The dental filling is used to restore the tooth to its original structure and function and to return your smile to good health.

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Our orthodontist may recommend Composite Dental Fillings

Composite dental fillings may be recommended for the following:

To repair minor to moderate tooth damage

If your tooth has been damaged by tooth decay

For minor fracturing or chipping

Also used to restore your tooth to its original structure

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Happy Composite Dental Fillings Smiles

Take A Look At These Before & After Client Composite Dental Fillings Results

Happy Teeth After Our Composite Dental Fillings

Composite Dental Fillings Before & After

Composite Dental Fillings at Three Sixty Dentistry

What can you expect In Your Composite Dental Fillings Appointment?

There are two main types of dental fillings available: amalgam fillings and composite fillings. The process for placing a filling requires just one comfortable visit to our office.

Our dentists will first remove the decayed and damaged portion of your tooth, and then clean the tooth to remove all traces of decay. We then fill the tooth with the filling material and shape it to match your tooth’s shape.

Finally, the filling is hardened for a lasting restoration. If your tooth is decayed or damaged, a dental filling may be a great choice for restoring your oral health and function.

We invite you to call or visit us today to learn more about dental fillings and to schedule your next appointment with our team. We look forward to caring for your smile

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Composite Dental Fillings FAQs From Dental Clients

Click on the question of your choice to get the answers!

What is a dental filling?

Why might I need a dental filling?

Sometimes people need dental fillings for a number of reasons. One, it may be that there’s a cavity area that has to be removed. Two, it may be that there’s somewhere where the tooth has been worn down over time and the tooth structure has to be replaced.

Three is there may be an area at the gum line where the root has been exposed and the tooth is sensitive, or four it could be that there’s a deep groove or a crack in the tooth that has to be sealed over, decreasing the chance of any issues of the tooth breaking or decay in the future.

What are the different types of dental fillings available?

How long do dental filling procedures take?

Dental filling procedures can sometimes take anywhere between 30 minutes to two hours based on how many teeth and also based on the extent of where the cavities or cracks are at.

We also try to take our time to make sure that patients are comfortable or give them as many breaks as needed. So depending on what the patient prefers and what the tooth needs would determine how long the appointment is.

At Three Sixty Dentistry, we make sure to give you an expectation of what your appointment will be.

Is getting a dental filling painful?

The great news is that with proper anesthetic techniques, dental fillings don’t have to be painful. At Three Sixty Dentistry we use a compounded pharmacist ‘s numbing gel to make the injection process much more comfortable, as well as smaller individual steps so that way it can be comfortable as well.

Once the tooth has achieved numbness, the great news of the dental fillings, can be painless.

How long do dental fillings last?

It is hard to predict how long the dental fillings can last, but some of the factors that can affect the longevity are how dry the environment was when the filling was placed because the white filling materials rely on a bond in a non-moist environment.

At Three Sixty Dentistry we use something called the dry shield to keep the tongue and cheek and saliva out of the area to make sure the filling lasts as long as possible. The other technique that can make fillings last longer is the ability to use a nice etch and bond system that can increase the chances of the filling staying sealed over a long period of time.

Routine dental cleanings, cavity risk evaluations by our office, and techniques and products to make sure the area is cleaned properly over time can increase the longevity of the fillings.

Our hopes are that filling lasts as long as possible, and with these steps in order, we are doing our best to avoid having to redo any dental work in the future.

What are the signs that I might need a dental filling?

The signs that you might need a dental filling could be anything that’s sensitive to chewing, whether it be temperatures or pushing pressure.

It could also be that you see a margin or the area where the filling of the tooth is starting to get a stain or discoloration.

Or it could be the fact that you’re getting food stuck and you need to have a better contoured area of the tooth so that we don’t develop any food trapping or gum diseases or further cavities because of things getting stuck.

Can dental fillings be replaced?

How do I care for my dental fillings?

Are there any risks associated with dental fillings?

The great news is that there’s very minor risks associated with dental fillings as long as they’re caught early in the later stages of a crack or decay that are deep, you could run the risk of needing further treatment, such as current lengthening root canals or extractions.

At Three Sixty Dentistry, we do our best to be proactive but not be aggressive.

By being proactive and not letting pain be the dictator of needing treatment, we can avoid those deeper situations and minimize your risks. Sometimes there are risks with giving local anesthetic, such as permanent numbness or meeting chances of root canals and pain.

We like to avoid all this by being proactive and treating minor issues to avoid having any complications.

How much does a dental filling cost without insurance?

Can children get dental fillings?

Children can get dental fillings. If there’s decay or if there’s wear on the top of the tooth that needs to be covered. Our goal is to promote prevention so that way we can avoid having to do dental work on kids.

One of the major ways that kids can develop cavities is by having them go to bed with a bottle of milk at night.

We try to teach the parents that if you can avoid this, we can keep the teeth healthy because that eliminates the chance of sugars and acid being on the teeth that create extensive decay in children.

Can dental fillings be done in one visit?

Are there any alternatives to dental fillings?

How do I know if I have a cavity that needs filling?

It is hard to know whether your cavity needs a filling or not, but by seeing your dental professional on a routine basis they can let you know if a filling is needed.

Sometimes if you’re having sensitivity at the root of the tooth or sometimes if you’re having chewing sensitivity or you see a margin that has stain or leaking around, it could be indicators that a filling is needed.

Sometimes they’re visible, but sometimes on the X-ray where you can’t see in your mouth is the only way to study whether a filling is needed. So having an appropriate interval of dental X-rays determined by your dentist would be the best way to catch decay or cavities between the teeth.

Can I eat and drink normally after getting a dental filling?