How Does a Dental Filling Work?

October 6, 2014

Treating cavities or dental caries is one of the core treatments of dentistry. Cavities are treated with dental fillings. Not all cavities, particularly those that have not made it through to the dentin, require a filling, but many do.

A cavity is a decaying of the tooth, so a dental filling is designed to build the tooth back to optimal structure with artificial material.  Often times, a dental filling procedure will also involve the removal of decaying material from the tooth. Once the dental filling has brought the tooth back to optimal structure, it will function and behave just as a normal, healthy tooth. Depending on the specific nature of the filling, including how deep or severe it is, different materials can be used in the process. At Honce Dental Centre, we’ll advise you on the best fit for your needs, following a check-up and consultation at our Kelowna dental clinic.

Post-filling, there can be some sensitivity in the tooth. This is normal and it shouldn’t last more than a couple of days. Furthermore, you may feel as though the filling is a little more raised than it should be, but the filling will typically bed in after a couple of days. Moreover, the sensation of the ‘raised filling’ can sometimes come from the fact that there is no longer a hole or cavity where there once was! You’ll get used to it in time and in some circumstances, we may shave the filling down if the raised sensation persists.

In many ways, the current standard method of treating cavities has been around since 1875. Of course, materials and technologies have changed and improved, but much of the core dental science on this subject has been in place for well over a century now.

To book your next dental appointment, please contact our Kelowna dental clinic.

(Photo: Pixshark.com)