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Dental Fillings

Feb 29

Hole in my tooth and drugstore filler won’t stay in

By Dental Fillings, Emergency Dentistry

I have a hole in my tooth but it doesn’t hurt. It was getting sensitive to hot and cold drinks so I got some Dentek from the drugstore. It used to work fine but it started falling out recently. Maybe the hole in my tooth is getting bigger? I don’t know. Can you recommend another product other than Dentek that might hold better now? Nezaida

Nezaida – Over-the-counter dental filler is a temporary repair for a tooth. It doesn’t eliminate the need to go to a dentist to have the tooth examined, x-rayed, and restored.

Although you don’t feel pain, the tooth can still be infected. The infection can affect other teeth, your jawbone, and spread elsewhere in your body. If the pulp (living tissue) inside your tooth dies, the nerves die with it, and you won’t feel pain in the tooth. If that’s the case, a root canal treatment is needed.

Schedule an appointment with your dentist right away to have your tooth examined. If the cavity is too large for composite filling, a porcelain onlay or inlay may be used to restore the tooth. Onlays and inlays preserve tooth structure, and in addition to building up the tooth again, they look completely natural.

A badly damaged tooth may require a porcelain crown. Visit an experienced cosmetic dentist for an examination and to learn about your options. Please don’t continue to try to repair the tooth yourself. If you prolong treatment, the damage to your tooth can progress and make treatment more difficult and more costly.

This post is sponsored by Naperville dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Aug 30

Dentist appointment..cavity?

By Dental Fillings

i am going to the dentist next week and i think i have a cavity. my tooth hurts when cold water or soda hits it. really  bad with ice cream. so if they see that i have a cavity will they fix it that day or will i have to make an  appointment and come back another day? – macie

Macie – If your appointment with your dentist next week is not specifically to have a cavity filled, it is unlikely that you will have the cavity filled that day.

Time has to be scheduled to allow proper filling of the cavity. Before the cavity is filled, your dentist will have to remove the decay and clean the tooth.

If you receive white composite filling, care needs to be taken to ensure the area around the tooth is kept dry. And in advance of placing the composite, your dentist has to select composite that matches the color of your tooth.

One applied to your tooth, the composite has to be spread evenly and hardened. Your dentist will test your bite to ensure the composite was applied evenly. Rough spots will be smoothed.

Time must be scheduled to ensure that you get a filling that will last.

This post is sponsored by Naperville dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Jun 24

How long do dental fillings last?

By Dental Fillings

I have three teeth that need filling. How long do fillings last? Thanks. Micah

Micah – There have been many studies conducted on dental fillings and how long they last. On average, white composite fillings last five to seven years. Amalgam (also called silver) fillings last about eight years.

The best filling is not to need one at all. So be diligent about maintaining good oral hygiene at home. Brush and floss your teeth regularly. Limit or avoid sugary snacks. Keep regularly-scheduled dental appointments for exams or cleanings.

Young children and adults with deep grooves in their teeth, which make teeth more prone to cavities, can receive dental sealants on their teeth. Dental sealants are very thin layers of plastic that cover the biting surfaces of your teeth.

This post is sponsored by Naperville dentist  Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Mar 23

Does my 4 yr old really need a cavity filled?

By Dental Fillings, Pediatric Dentist

My 4 yr old son needs to have a cavity filled is it safe and necessary? – Carlie

Carlie – Cavities can grow fast in primary teeth, and if the cavity is not filled, your son will develop a toothache. A cavity left untreated can cause your son to prematurely lose the tooth.

Primary front teeth are lost between the ages of six and eight. Molar teeth can remain up to age 12. Primary teeth need to be preserved to help guide permanent teeth to the correct position.

Your son’s tooth can be filled with white composite filling, instead of amalgam or “silver filling.” Speak with your dentist about your concerns. He or she will be able to explain the state of the tooth that needs to be filled, what can happen if you choose not to fill it, and the type of material that will be used for the filling.

This post is sponsored by Naperville dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Feb 12

I was told I only needed a filling in my tooth

By Dental Crowns, Dental Fillings

I have a tooth that has been sensitive for about 2 mo. now. Not just to hot or cold. It’s just been plain sensitive. So my dentist took xrays and said there is some decay and I needed a filling. Yesterday I went for the filling and after all of the drilling and prep work now he says I need a root canal treatment. I made the appointment to get the root canal treatment next week but I am wondering how could I go from needing a filling to a root canal treatment all in the same day.I just want to know if this is unusual . thanks – Jamel

Jamel – Dentists use x-rays to determine the appropriate treatment plan. At times, when a dentist begins to work on a tooth and drill to eliminate tooth decay, it’s found that the tooth decay is deeper than the x-ray revealed. In that case, a dental filling in the cavity won’t be enough to save the tooth.

When a dentist sees that the decay has reached the pulp of your tooth, a root canal treatment is needed to remove the infected pulp. The root canal treatment prevents the infection from spreading to your jawbone or other teeth.

Although a root canal treatment takes longer to complete than a dental filling, it can be painless procedure. You will receive antibiotics to ensure that the infection is completely gone. And a dental crown may be used to protect your tooth.

This post is sponsored by Naperville dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca

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