Fillings Specialist

What are fillings?

Fillings are a restorative dentistry procedure that repairs tooth enamel damaged by decay. There are several types of fillings, but Nova Dental administers tooth-colored ones. Tooth-colored fillings match the shade and light-reflecting properties of your natural enamel, ensuring they blend in with your surrounding teeth.

Getting a filling is a quick and virtually pain-free procedure. There’s no recovery period, so as soon as the restoration cures, you can return to work, exercise, and other routine activities right away.

What does getting a filling involve?

At Nova Dental, getting a filling often takes less than an hour. Before recommending a filling, your provider does an oral exam and takes X-rays to assess your affected tooth. Next, they administer a local anesthetic and carefully remove the decaying portion of tooth enamel. 

After removing the damaged portion of your tooth, your provider sterilizes it with an antiseptic solution. Then, they apply a thin layer of composite resin to the top of your tooth. The solution sits for several minutes and your provider points a blue wavelength light at it. The light causes the resin to harden and cure.

Your provider repeats these same steps multiple times until your tooth is in its near-original shape and size. Afterward, your provider polishes the tooth, removes any excess resin, and provides care instructions.

Are fillings painful?

Getting fillings is a quick, pain-free procedure. Once the anesthesia wears off, it’s normal to experience some increased tooth sensitivity, but that should subside within a week. To minimize any discomfort, Nova Dental recommends:

• Avoiding extremely hot or cold foods
• Avoiding spicy foods
• Using a desensitizing toothpaste
• Taking over-the-counter pain medication

Continue to brush and floss as you normally would, but be gentle around the new filling. If your tooth sensitivity persists, contact Nova Dental right away.

How long do fillings last?

The length of time that fillings last depends on how well you take care of them. To extend the lifespan of your fillings, Nova Dental recommends brushing and flossing daily and visiting the office two times a year for an oral exam and professional teeth cleaning.

To prevent chipping or other damage, wear a mouthguard when playing sports and avoid bad habits like chewing on ice cubes or opening packaging with your teeth.

To explore the benefits of fillings, make an appointment at Nova Dental by calling the office, or clicking the online booking tool today.