Dental Fillings in Fairfield, CA
Green Valley Dental | Gentle, Tooth-Colored Fillings Near You
About Dental Fillings
A dental filling is a dental material that is used to repair the look & function of a tooth that has been damaged by tooth decay. Patients searching for a dentist near you or a trusted fillings dentist in Fairfield often choose dental fillings to restore tooth strength and comfort. You may be wondering, "If it's called a filling, why does it involve drilling a hole?" Fillings aren't like Band-Aids: we can't just cover up the damage & expect it to get better.
Unlike pretty much every other part of your body, teeth cannot heal themselves when they get damaged or infected. In order to restore your tooth back to the way it should be, we have to remove the decay first. That's what we're doing when we use the drill when applying a filling. Yes, it does make the hole caused by the decay a little bigger temporarily, but it's better than leaving any decay that could hurt your tooth more in the long run. This is why visiting a dentist near you in Fairfield for timely fillings is important.
What Is A Dental Filling?
Fillings are used to fill cavities, or small holes, caused by bacterial acids that have eaten through your tooth. If left untreated, cavities can expand, carving deeper into your tooth & ultimately destroying it.
Fillings halt the decay process, thereby saving your tooth & preventing more cost & discomfort in the future. We proudly offer dental fillings in Fairfield, serving Green Valley and Fairfield (94533, 94534), Cordelia (94534), Vallejo (94589, 94590, 94591), Suisun City (94585), and Rockville (94534).
What Types of Filling Materials Are Available?
There are several types of materials that can be used for fillings. What type gets used will depend on the condition of your tooth, how you want it to look & your budget. Your dentist will always want to choose the option that optimally restores the look & function of your tooth.
The most common materials are gold, amalgam (silver), composite (plastic) resin & porcelain. Metal fillings are more common on back teeth (molars) because they don't show when you smile. However, many patients prefer a tooth-colored, metal-free option, regardless of where in the mouth the filling will be. At our office we prefer to use new & advanced tooth fillings made of tooth-colored materials such as composite resin or porcelain. Tooth-colored fillings are used on the front teeth where a natural appearance is important and may also be used on back teeth depending on the extent of decay. The final decision is made through a discussion between you & the fillings dentist in Fairfield.
Procedure Overview
The dental filling procedure is a very routine & relatively simple treatment when performed by an experienced dentist near you.
- We will start by giving you a local anesthetic to numb the area, if necessary. Numbing may not be necessary for very small fillings, but feel free to ask the dentist about it if you are concerned about discomfort.
- Next, the dentist will remove the decay using a drill.
- Once the decay is removed, the dentist may use the drill a little more to shape the tooth so the filling will fit better. The dentist may also etch the inner surfaces of the space with an acid gel to help the filling hold on better later.
- If the material used for the filling involves resin, the dentist may use a special bright light to harden it. At the very end of the procedure, we will polish the tooth to make it smooth & shiny like the rest of your teeth. We proudly provide dental fillings in Fairfield for patients from Green Valley, Cordelia, Vallejo, Suisun City, and Rockville.
