Top Dentist in Allentown, PA
A dental filling is a restoration that is specifically used to fill in an area of one or more teeth that have become decayed. Dental decay, known as a cavity, can infiltrate a tooth and cause it to become weak. Over time, the decay essentially eats into the tooth to reach the inner pulp. Before the decay is allowed to get to this point, it’s removed and replaced with a tooth-colored composite resin filling.
If you ignore a cavity long enough, the tooth will require a full root canal. This can cause the tooth to become weakened over time. In order to essentially protect the tooth and get rid of the underlying decay, we recommend having a filling placed. Fillings are simple restorations that can be matched to the color of your existing smile.
We first numb the area of the mouth needing the filling. The decay is removed from the tooth completely. The next step is to prep the tooth for the new composite filling. We do this by applying an etching gel into the small hole, washing it away and then packing the hole with resin. The resin is cured and hardened with a special dental light. We can place multiple fillings in the same area, and we recommend coming in for treatment as soon as it’s found that you have a cavity.
Both an inlay and onlay are restorations that can help to improve the look and feel of an otherwise damaged or compromised tooth. The restoration can be used to cover a tooth that has cracked or broken or to replace old fillings. They are typically made of porcelain, which allows them to look both natural and realistic. The benefit of both onlays and inlays is that they can last for many years without needing to be replaced.
There are a couple of reasons for why you might need to have either an inlay or an onlay placed. Your tooth might have cracked or broken across the very top of it. Rather than place a full dental crown, a smaller restoration will be perfect for the area. Likewise, we might recommend an onlay or inlay if you have a larger, older filling that needs to be completely replaced.
With an examination, we can determine if either of these restorations is best for you. The restoration is made for each individual patient, so it fits and feels completely comfortable. You can think of these restorations as smaller crowns, since they look and last as long as larger options. Inlays sit inside the grooves of a tooth while the onlay sits over the very top.
The process begins by removing decay, old filling material and smoothing out areas that are broken or cracked. We then take impressions of your teeth so that we can make the new restoration. You will come back in for a second appointment. This second visit involves placing the actual inlay or onlay. The restoration is smoothed into place and polished before you leave the office. You can benefit from a gorgeous new tooth that will improve the overall look of your smile.
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