Fillings
Even though you limit sticky sweets and make sure your children brush their teeth twice a day, cavities can still happen. Approximately three-quarters of school-age children get at least one cavity. A trip to your pediatric dentist for a safe, friendly visit can take care of your child’s cavities with minimal stress, anxiety, and discomfort. Choosing a pediatric dentist like Clifton & Mauney ensures that your child’s dental fillings are taken care of in an age-appropriate way by compassionate professionals who understand kids and their teeth. Not only do we provide dental procedures and orthodontic treatments, but we are also devoted to the health and well-being of your child’s mouth and teeth throughout their formative years.
To learn more about our dental filling service, reach out to speak to one of our staff. Whether it’s baby teeth or permanent adult teeth that need a filling, we will take care of your child and ensure their comfort and dental health from start to finish. Contact us via online form or by calling 888.339.8108.
What Are Dental Fillings?
Dental fillings are used to treat cavities—small holes—in the tooth that have resulted from decay. Decay is the result of certain types of bacteria that interact with sugars and starches from food and drink. The interaction results in a kind of acid that attacks the tooth and eats away at the minerals in its hard surface and also deeper down for larger cavities.
Promptly seeking dental care to mend cavities with teeth fillings is important for multiple reasons:
- First, you want to intervene quickly to treat a cavity to stop further decay, which can further damage the teeth.
- Second, untreated cavities can lead to dental pain. Catching a cavity early and taking care of it with a dental filling reduces the chances of toothache.
- Finally, preserving your child’s smile is important to their confidence.
At Clifton & Mauney, we use tooth-colored composite for our fillings. Also used in dental bonding, this composite can be matched to the tooth. No one will ever realize dental work was done.
Why Use Composite for Teeth Fillings?
The tooth-colored composite is usually the best option for filling cavities, though it might not be in some cases. If it is not, your dentist will discuss options with you. At Clifton & Mauney, we like using composite because:
- It is efficient as it requires less work to be done on the tooth, which is a particular benefit to children who may be nervous or have a hard time sitting for longer periods of time.
- It is more durable than other filling materials.
- The resin makes teeth look natural, healthy, and shiny because it is so similar to tooth enamel in appearance and has a translucent look when set.
The steps for placing a composite filling are:
- Numbing the area to avoid discomfort
- Removing the decayed area of the tooth
- Placing the filling material into the small gap left behind by the prior step
- Molding the filling material to the shape of the tooth
- Using a special light to set, aka harden, the filling material
- Making adjustments to the bite for comfort
- Finishing the filling with a good polish
Depending on the size, more than one cavity can be filled in a single appointment, though a lot depends on the child’s age and ability to sit for multiple tooth fillings. If there are multiple cavities, we always discuss these matters with the parents before scheduling.
Contact Clifton & Mauney Today to Learn More About Our Dental Filling Service
We provide full-service dentistry and orthodontics, including oral surgery, cosmetic dentistry, Invisalign and traditional braces, sealants, fillings, and so much more. Let Clifton & Mauney be your one-stop for your child’s dental needs.
We take the anxiety out of getting a filling. Call 888.339.8108 today to learn more, or simply submit this easy online form.