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Fillings

Get the facts on bonded fillings and why they’re your best bet to fix a cracked or damaged tooth.

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Fillings

In the past, tooth problems like cavities or other trauma only had one viable treatment option: metal or amalgam fillings. Thankfully, advances in the science of dentistry have led to the development of resin compounds that, when bonded to your tooth, provide a durable filling with a much more natural appearance. Dr. Kari removes the decay and places tooth-coloured composite restorations (white fillings) within a single appointment.

 

We are often asked why we do fillings on baby teeth. Children go through two phases of teething: the front teeth may be lost between six to eight years of age, while the eight primary back teeth (molars) are not lost until about age 10 to 12. An untreated cavity can create an infection and cause your child pain, facial swelling, missed sleep and time out of school. The back teeth are very important and hold the space for the permanent teeth growing underneath them. If cavities are not fixed, teeth may shift, causing lost space, and more extensive treatment will be needed to correct this problem. The molars are also important for proper chewing and they aid in proper speech. Fixing any cavities when they are small will minimize more extensive and expensive repair later.

 

Sometimes fillings do not work on baby teeth, however, and crowns are necessary. Primary teeth are very small compared to adult teeth. For this reason, they do not hold big fillings well. “Big fillings” are repairs to large cavities on three or more sides of the tooth. Additionally, children who grind their teeth at night break their fillings much more rapidly. Stainless steel crowns hold up much better under these circumstances.

back to ALL DENTAL TOPICS
back to ALL DENTAL TOPICS