Central Oakville Dental Care provides a full range of dental services to adults, teens, and children in Oakville. Dental fillings are a common procedure for treating tooth decay and preventing its spread. 

A filling is used to repair a small hole or cavity in the tooth. When getting a dental filling in Oakville, your dentist will remove the decayed part of the tooth and then replace it with a filling material.  

A filling is needed when the patient has a cavity, a broken tooth or a replacement of a failing existing filling. Whenever we consume sugar, especially added sugar, bacteria in the mouth turn the sugar into acid and the whole mouth becomes acidic. If this process occurs too frequently, over time a small hole (or cavity) can form in the tooth. When cavities are not treated, the decay can spread deeper to the pulp and cause infection or even lead to the loss of the tooth.  

A dental filling is therefore both a restorative and a preventative treatment.

There are three main types of fillings that your Oakville dentist is likely to use:  

Your Oakville dentist will examine your mouth to determine the extent of the decay (this will likely involve taking an X-ray and sometimes using an Intra-Oral camera to see the area even more clearly) 

To ensure that you are as comfortable as possible during the procedure, your dentist will first use a numbing gel on the gum, and will then numb the area surrounding the affected tooth using a local anesthetic. When the area becomes numb, your dentist will use a dental drill and hand instruments to carefully remove the decay. Once the tooth has been cleaned, your dentist will seal the area with glue before building the tooth back with filling material. 

Lastly, your dentist will clean the area, ensure that your bite is correct and make sure the tooth is smoothly finished and polished. 

Most of the time, patients heal very quickly after getting a dental filling however they may occasionally feel some sensitivity for a few days to weeks afterwards. Sensitivity can be reduced by avoiding chewing on the side with the filling for a few days, brushing and flossing more gently, avoiding hot and cold food and drinks and application of sensitive toothpaste on the tooth itself twice daily until the sensitivity subsides.  

If you think you may need a dental filling, contact us today to make an appointment with us at Central Oakville Dental Care.