Fillings and Restorations in Alpharetta, Johns Creek and Roswell, GA
At Polkadot Pediatric Dentistry we offer fillings and restoration services for teeth that have small cavities and can be removed before any serious procedures are needed.
What Are Teeth Fillings?
Fillings are the method that dentists and pediatric dentists in Alpharetta use to combat tooth decay and cavities. By removing a diseased portion of a tooth, a pediatric dentist is then able to restore the tooth to its original shape and function by “filling” the tooth.
A tooth filling also helps a tooth combat future attempts at bacteria to create cavities. By filling in the gaps, bacteria will be unable to return back to the recently decayed areas and won’t be susceptible to further exposure to cavities.
Teeth White Fillings or Composite Resins
At Polkadot Pediatric Dentistry we use white fillings, otherwise known as composite resins. The advantage of this type of filling is the aesthetics of the fillings. Rather than gold or silver fillings, white fillings are exactly what they sound like, they match the color of your tooth. This makes the filling not noticeable and provides a cleaner look for teeth.
These composite resins are made of a mix of different materials including plastic, glass, and ceramic compounds.
The thing is, white fillings are excellent when we have to fix small or medium-sized cavities affecting your kids’ teeth. White fillings can help a lot when fixing either your front teeth or the ones in the back of your mouth because people will hardly notice them, and they’re easy to place. The process ensures the material hardens in seconds instead of a couple of days required by other types of fillings.
The cons of white fillings are that they do not last as long as other fillings, however, this is actually beneficial to primary teeth. Composite resins can be lost from 3 to 10 years, which may not seem like a long time, however when discussing primary teeth, these will fall out to be replaced by primary teeth.
As such, white fillings offer any patient the esthetic advantages of tooth-colored materials and all the functionality you can expect of a high-quality solution for your baby’s teeth.
What is The Process of Getting a Filling?
Fillings are a very simple procedure and can be broken down into five steps:
- Local Anesthesia: Before we even begin with the process, our pediatric dentist will ensure the area is safe to work with and administer a local anesthetic to work without disturbing your child and avoiding any sensation of pain.
- Removal of Tooth Decay: Once the anesthetic agent does its job, we’ll start clearing any decayed material and tissue in our around the tooth. Then, we start the filling process.
- Etching: Filling a kid’s tooth requires some preparation, which is why we use an acid gel that helps keep the filling in place.
- Applying the Filling: After we complete the etching process, the best pediatric dentist Roswell has available will apply the white filling and harden it. This will only take a few seconds.
- Polishing: Now that all is where it’s supposed to be, your kids’ dentist will polish the tooth and filling to avoid any rough edges that could bother your child.
For many children, when they get their first filling there can be a little bit of jitters. That’s understandable. Dr. Nanna and our staff will walk through the procedure in child-friendly words. They’ll do a walkthrough of the tools they’ll use to fill the cavities.
Many children once they know what to expect and develop a trust with Dr. Nanna, often become much more relaxed and have a breeze during the procedure!
FAQ
What are tooth fillings?
Tooth fillings are, strictly speaking, the material used by a dentist to fill your tooth after they have cleared the infected tissues. The reason why a dentist uses dental fillings is that they help maintain the strength of a tooth once the inner, soft tissue, is removed. You can come by our office in Alpharetta to get this restorative treatment.
What is used for tooth fillings?
A dentist can use either an inert material that stays inside a patient’s tooth or a material that can be absorbed by the patient later. The difference is that the former can be used to help strengthen permanent teeth, while the latter should be used in primary teeth to avoid interrupting the natural eruption of permanent teeth as the child grows.
How many fillings can one tooth have?
Yes, if your tooth had several cavities that do not communicate, your tooth can receive several tooth fillings as it needs. It would be preferable to use the same material and have the treatment performed by the same dentist. Here at Polkadot Pediatric Dentistry, we serve our neighbors from various cities like Roswell, so swing by whenever you want.
Do all cavities need fillings?
Cavities? Yes. Minor tooth decay? No. Your dentist will recommend you receive tooth fillings if the decay has exposed the pulp of your tooth and you are in need of help to avoid further complications from an infection. If the decay of the outer layers of a tooth is minor, you may not need a filling. Our staff in Alpharetta, GA can help you with other treatments like topical fluoride.
How do I prepare my child for a tooth filling?
The process is very simple, but you might want to warn your child about the injection for anesthesia. The child won’t feel any lasting pain but they will feel pressure as the dentist cleans the cavity and fills the tooth. Explaining all this and reasoning with the child about the importance of cleaning the infection and strengthening their tooth can help too.