| You've
just had a white filling placed. Seemed kind of simple,
but there is a lot more to it than may meet the eye. First
let me explain a little bit about the various types of
white fillings that are currently available.
The
most simple form of “white filling” is technically
called a Composite Resin.
You have heard of it as BONDING. Composites
are made up of a quartz resin and usually contain a light
sensitive agent. These light cured composites are extremely
cosmetic and most often bonded into place. They can be
used in both the front of the mouth as well as in your
back teeth. The composite materials we use here at COSMETIC
DENTAL REHABILITATION, PC have been specifically
designed to actually withstand the incredible forces you
can exert when chewing on your back teeth.
In
order to bond a filling material to your tooth it is first
necessary to remove the decay, prepare the tooth and then
to condition the enamel and dentin. Once conditioned,
a thin resin is applied which bonds to the etched surface.
The bond strength of these fillings is incredible. Bonding
increases the strength of these restorations far beyond
those of only a short time ago.
Before
we place the white bonding material, the inner cavity
of the tooth is cleansed, disinfected and sealed. In some
cases, the tooth may become sensitivity after the anesthetic
wears off, because of previous bacterial contamination
or a reaction to the bonding process, which is slightly
irritating to the nerve. Most of this post-operative sensitivity
goes away. Quite often anti-inflammatory agents as Advil,
Motrin, or Aleve eliminate the problem. In a few cases,
additional treatment may be need for the tooth, such as
root canal therapy. Your teeth may also experience some
degree of temperature sensitivity for a few days to a
week. If it does not disappear within that period of time,
please give the office a call.
The
other type of “white filling” is called a
Porcelain Inlay. These fillings are usually
placed in posterior (back) teeth when esthetics and strength
considerations are of utmost concern. In order to increase
their strength and longevity, they are fabricated in the
laboratory and then bonded into position in the office.
This is a two-visit procedure rather than the one visit
required to place a composite filling. However, when it
comes to strength and cosmetics, the extra time and expense
can be well worth it! I hope that you now understand a
little bit more about your new white (composite) filling.
If you have any questions regarding this or any other
treatment procedure, please feel free to call at any time.
|
James
H. Doundoulakis, D.M.D, M.S.
COSMETIC DENTAL REHABILITATION, PC
53 East 66th Street
New York, NY 10021
Telephone: (212) 517-3365 |
