The most common dental problem in the country is tooth decay, often called a cavity. In fact, according to the U.S. Surgeon General, about 78 percent of people have had at least one cavity by the age of 17! Thankfully, there’s a terrific treatment for this dental problem – fillings. As your Maplewood, MN dentistry providers, we at Maplewood Dental Associates are glad to provide this service.
Fillings are used to seal a small hole in your tooth, which is typically caused by decay. A filling will prevent the decay from spreading further into your tooth and causing damage to your sensitive inner pulp tissue in the root canal.
Getting a filling is a simple dentistry procedure that follows these steps:
Fillings can be divided into two categories: metal fillings and tooth-colored fillings. No one type of filling is best in every situation, and we’ll be glad to discuss the details of each one.
The numbness from the anesthesia should wear off within a few hours. Until then, we recommend not eating on the side of your mouth with the filling and avoiding hot or cold liquids. You may have some sensitivity to hot and cold for the first few weeks after getting a filling, though if it persists longer than that, please contact us and let us know. You’ll also want to keep up with your regular brushing and flossing; teeth with fillings require the same oral hygiene that the rest of your teeth do.
If you have any questions about our fillings or other dentistry services, please don’t hesitate to contact us. If you’d like to schedule an appointment with your Maplewood, MN, dentist, we encourage you to complete our appointment request form. We’re looking forward to helping you attain a healthier smile!
