Fillings

Repairing a cavity with a dental filling is one of the most conservative forms of dental treatment performed at Aliso Smiles. We encourage our patients to maintain regular six-month visits, as this routine allows us to catch dental problems when they are still small enough to handle with minor repair.

For many years, the standard of care has been to repair teeth with silver fillings. This type of filling is actually made of dental amalgam, which is a combination of tin, copper, and silver, held together with mercury. Dr. Patel chooses to avoid this material, preferring instead to repair damaged teeth with tooth-colored fillings. These fillings are not only more attractive, but also more durable than their predecessor.

Tooth colored fillings may be called white fillings or composite fillings. The composite material is ideal not only for repairing teeth that are damaged, but also for the cosmetic repair of teeth that have been chipped or are oddly shaped.

There are several advantages to tooth-colored fillings made of composite resin. These include:

• Natural appearance
• This material is more mechanically retained within the tooth structure, which means less natural structure needs to be removed for repair
• When a composite filling is bonded to the tooth, up to 95 percent of the original strength is restored
• Composite completely hardens in just a few seconds, rather than days
• There is minimal tooth sensitivity, if any, with composite fillings. Should sensitivity occur, it is only temporary
• Tooth-colored fillings are suitable for any tooth in the mouth
• These fillings can be easily repaired should they be damaged

Due to the method of placement, in which fillings are bonded to teeth, many patients are able to undergo treatment without local anesthetic. We do, however, remain fully committed to our patients’ comfort, and provide numbing medication should a tooth need to be repaired because of damage. Even when damage is minor, the vibration and heat of the dental drill can be uncomfortable.

After the tooth has been prepared through the removal of any damaged area, we clean the tooth and apply a primer, which promotes a strong bond with the composite material. Primer encourages the pores in enamel and dentin to open, which then allows the bonding agent to settle in these tiny holes, creating durable adhesion. Filling material is then applied and shaped with great precision, to maintain comfortable chewing. We apply a curing light to the filling material, and the filling will harden very quickly. The bite is then assessed, and any adjustments needed are immediately made. The final step of this procedure is to polish the new filling for a natural shine.

You deserve a healthy, gorgeous smile. Dr. Patel serves the areas of Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo, Laguna Beach, Dana Point, Laguna Hills, Laguna Woods, and more. Contact us for your dental check-up today.