Tooth Fillings and Dental Sealants in East Hanover, NJ
Tooth decay and cavities are both common dental issues. Receiving tooth-colored fillings can restore your teeth and help to prevent simple decay from becoming something worse.
Dental Fillings
A dental filling is used to treat a cavity and is a relatively painless procedure that can be easily handled at our East Hanover, New Jersey, office. To perform the treatment, our dentists first numb the area around the tooth to ensure you remain comfortable throughout the procedure, then remove the decayed portion of the tooth to prevent further damage. Next, the empty cavity of the tooth is filled in, where the damaged portion had been, with restoration material that is then shaped and polished to fit seamlessly into your bite.
Tooth fillings are available in a variety of materials, including composite resin (plastic), ceramic (porcelain), and gold. At Dental Care East Hanover, we work with each patient to determine which type of filling and procedure would be the best and least invasive option for them.
Dental Sealants
No matter how diligently you brush, rinse, and floss, it’s inevitable that some plaque and food will get captured in the deep grooves of a tooth’s chewing surface. At Dental Care East Hanover, our dentists use sealants to fill grooves and prevent cavities.
Sealants are made from medical-grade plastic that protects your teeth against acids and plaque that can cause cavities. Often placed on the chewing surfaces of molars, sealants are applied by painting the tooth with a special material that bonds to its surface. The process is simple yet proven to be highly effective at cavity prevention.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How do dental fillings for cavities work?
Cavities and tooth fillings are required when decay leaves holes in teeth. Left unchecked, the decay will continue to spread and damage the tooth’s hard material and eventually the inner pulp and root system. During the filling procedure, dentists remove decay from the cavity using a drill. However, because this doesn’t fix the existing damage, a filling is necessary. The filling replaces the part of the tooth destroyed by tooth decay. Your dentist will mold the filling to match the shape of the existing tooth, restoring its structural integrity and protecting the softer enamel exposed by decay.
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What types of fillings are there?
There are several types of materials used for tooth fillings, including gold, porcelain, silver amalgam (an alloy of mercury mixed with silver, tin, zinc, and copper), tooth-colored plastic, composite resin, and glass ionomer. The material used depends on your dentist, the extent and location of your tooth decay, and your insurance coverage.
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Is tooth sensitivity after a filling normal?
When you get a filling, the area around the infected tooth is numbed. You shouldn’t feel anything for an hour or two after your appointment, but once the numbing wears off, it’s normal to feel pain in your teeth and gums. It’s common to experience pain when drinking or eating anything hot or cold. It is also not uncommon to feel pain or greater-than-usual sensitivity when you brush or floss near the infected tooth.
You can reduce the sensitivity in your teeth and gums by:
- Taking ibuprofen
- Rinsing your mouth with 1/2 to 3/4 tsp of salt mixed with warm water (this can reduce inflammation).
- Temporarily avoiding hot, cold, or acidic foods and drinks
- Brushing and flossing gently
- Use a desensitizing toothpaste, such as Sensodyne or Colgate Sensitive
More Questions?
If you have more questions about dental fillings and sealants, contact us and we'll be happy to discuss further. Feel free to schedule an appointment online through the button below.
