How Long Do Front Teeth Fillings Take?

Dental fillings are standard procedures to repair damage occurring from tooth decay. The process is generally painless and requires about an hour. Unfortunately, tooth cavities are widespread and untreated holes affect approximately 2 billion people globally with permanent teeth.

Fillings help prevent further decay and allow teeth to function as desired. Kindly continue reading to know more about what to expect if you need a dental filling, the frequently used materials, and how long it takes to set and heal.

How Much Is Time Required When Getting a Filling?

Generally, fillings require an hour or less. Simple fillers to restore teeth need as few as 20 minutes. Many dental offices have updated technology to make indirect fillings like inlays and Onlays in one appointment, although extensive and multiple fillings may require more time.

In addition, depending on the materials used to restore teeth, the filling may take longer or require multiple appointments. For example, it takes more time to layer composite resin fillers, but you can have them placed in one visit. However, some composite fillers are made of impressions, so arranging another appointment to restore the tooth is essential.

Gold or porcelain fillings called inlays and Onlays can also be completed in one visit if the dental office you visit has the equipment. Unfortunately, if they don’t, multiple visits are essential. Replacing existing fillings also takes the same time as getting a new filling. However, more time may be required if the old filling needs removal because the dentist must clean the cavity and the existing filling material before placing a new filling.

How long do fillings Take on a Child?

Despite having a nutritious diet and maintaining good dental hygiene, cavities in children are common. One in five children between five and 11 have at least one untreated cavity.

Filling children’s teeth requires the same time as adults with additional considerations. Children under five may require anesthesia if they find sitting still for 20 minutes challenging. The anesthesia will add time when beginning the appointment and recovering before taking your child home. Nitrous oxide, alternatively called laughing gas, is used safely on children by the dentist in Baytown, TX, to help them remain still during the filling process. You can discuss with the dentist about accommodations your child may need. An experienced dentist can estimate how long your child’s tooth restoration procedure will take.

What Are the Various Types of Dental Fillings?

Dentists will discuss the various materials helpful for filling cavities. The American Dental Association states that the widespread options to restore teeth include the following materials:

• Silver Colored Fillings: a combination of mercury, silver, tin, and copper help make metal amalgam fillings. They are more durable than tooth-colored fillings, besides being affordable. Some people may experience concerns about mercury in the fillers, but no clinical evidence is available to confirm amalgam fillings are harmful. However, silver-colored fillings are being phased out.
• Composite Tooth-Colored Fillings: a mixture of quartz particles, glass, and acrylic resin help make tooth-colored fillings. While the material is durable, it costs more than silver fillings but is aesthetically pleasing.
• Gold Fillings: a mixture of gold, copper, and other metals helping make gold fillings incredibly durable but remain expensive. They are not aesthetically pleasing and require multiple appointments with dental fillings in Baytown, TX, because they are created in a dental laboratory after the dentist impressions your tooth.
• Glass Ionomer Fillers: ionomer fillers are also tooth-colored. Unfortunately, they are less durable than composites. A version of Glass and acrylic containing fluoride to help prevent cavities help to make them. They are often used for children’s teeth and cost more than silver fillings.
• Porcelain Fillings: porcelain fillers are just as expensive as gold fillers but have an aesthetic appearance. They are created in a dental laboratory after your dentist impressions your tooth.

Expectations When Getting Dental Fillings

• When performing dental fillings procedures, dentists will examine your mouth using dental tools to detect cavities. They will x-ray the tooth to determine the extent of the damage.
• You receive local anesthesia near the tooth to prevent pain if filling a cavity. However, you will not need anesthesia to repair a tooth for surface damage.
• After your mouth is numb, the dentist uses a dental drill to remove the decay.
• After decay removal, the dentist will sterilize and prepare the cavity for the filling. Some dental fillers, like composite resin, are hardened using ultraviolet light.
• Finally, the dentist polishes the tooth and checks to ensure your bite is not out of place.

You will experience soreness after the numbing medication wears off, but you shouldn’t experience any pain. After getting your teeth filled, you must avoid scalding and freezing foods for a couple of days. After that, however, you can eat as you usually do after restoring your tooth.

Leaving a cavity untreated allows the bacteria to expand to create more damage in your affected tooth. Therefore when your dentist suggests getting a dental filling, it helps if you get the tooth restored as soon as possible.

Kam Dental routinely performs dental filling procedures on adults and children, helping them restore permanently damaged teeth. If you have a hole in your tooth, kindly get it fixed from the practice as soon as possible.