Get a Restorative Dental Filling in Calgary

What Kind of Restorative Dental Filling Is Right for Me?

The most common type of filling or restoration is the bonded composite or “white” filling. The dental material chosen by the dentist will take into consideration the forces it must endure, the location of the decay, and the environment in which it is subjected to during placement. Bonding the restoration to the remaining tooth structure eliminates the need for removing additional material for mechanical retention, such as with older filling materials.

Dental Fillings: A Breakdown

With most restorations the first step is to get the patient comfortable. Numbing gel and local anesthetic are used to freeze the portion of your mouth to be treated. After the area is frozen, the dentist will carefully remove the infected portion of your tooth using a handpiece.

Once the dentist is satisfied that only healthy tooth is present, cavity preparation is conditioned using an acid gel and a thin layer of bond is applied, slightly air-dried and light-cured using a UV light source.

Once the bond is cured, the composite filling material is applied in 2mm or less thicknesses. Each increment of white or tooth-colored filling is cured using the same UV light and it goes from soft and fluid to hard and rigid. After the preparation or cavity is completely filled, the dentist will shape and polish the restoration to ensure the bite and feel is comfortable to the patient.