Tooth Fillings in Cincinnati, OH

If you have a tooth cavity, a dental filling can help preserve your oral health. Filling a cavity involves removing decay and repairing the affected tooth with the appropriate filling material to prevent further damage. The dentist may also recommend fillings to fix worn, cracked, or broken teeth. When you need a tooth filling in the Cincinnati area, trust our team at Blue Ash Dental Group with your dental treatment needs. 

Am I a Candidate for Dental Filling?

Getting a toothache is the classic sign that you have a cavity that requires filling. Other symptoms that indicate a potential cavity include:

• Pain when you bite down or chew
• Sensitivity to temperature, pressure, or air
• Visible damage on the tooth such as a chip, hole, or dark spot
• A tooth that feels rough or constantly gets food stuck in it

You should also seek advice about dental fillings if you have an old filling that has cracked, broken, or come loose. Inlays or onlays made from composite resin or another filling material can help restore your natural smile.

What are the Different Types of Dental Fillings?

When you schedule your appointment, we'll help you choose the appropriate type of filling based on your needs. Considerations include your desired appearance, budget, insurance coverage, the extent of the decay, and your personal preferences. These are the most common filling materials we offer patients who need this procedure.

Composite Fillings

Tooth-colored composite fillings are a popular choice because we can closely match the appearance of your natural smile. This combination of glass and quartz is appropriate for small to medium-sized cavities. 

Many patients opt for composites if they need fillings on highly visible teeth. These fillings bond to the tooth structure for additional support and typically last up to 10 years. In addition to treating tooth decay, we can also use composite filling material to create inlays and onlays for chipped or damaged teeth.

Gold Fillings

While this durable option can last up to 15 years, it also costs more than other types of fillings. However, we often recommend gold for patients who have a strong bite that may damage weaker materials. Patients sometimes request gold because they prefer its appearance to that of a silver-colored tooth.

Silver Amalgam Fillings

Silver-colored fillings are equally resilient than gold fillings and offer the most affordable option for budget-conscious patients. However, many patients prefer tooth-colored fillings rather than metals.

Less common types of fillings include ceramic which provide long-lasting aesthetic appeal but may stain over time.

What Are the Benefits of Cavity Filling?

Regular visits to dentists can help detect and treat small cavities before they become large issues. If tooth decay becomes extensive, you may require a root canal before you get a filling or even lose the tooth entirely and require a crown or implant.

Not only does filling a cavity protect the tooth and prevent further decay, but it also restores the appearance of your smile. Large cavities can result in visible damage that may cause you to feel self-conscious, have difficulty eating, or experience chronic mouth pain.

Does Teeth Filling Hurt?

Most patients find that they feel relief from discomfort after having a tooth filled. During the procedure, we completely numb the area to make sure you will not experience pain. First, we use topical gel on the gums so that we can inject anesthetic into the affected tooth and surrounding tissue. The gel prevents you from feeling the needle while the anesthetic travels deep into the nerves to numb them as your dentist works.

After we make sure the area has been completely numbed, the dentist uses a drill to remove the decayed portion of the tooth. Then, the team will clean and sterilize the tooth and dry the area in preparation for the filling. We may need to insert a glass isomer liner to protect the nerve in the case of a very deep cavity.

Finally, the dentist will insert the filling material, test to make sure your bite is even, and adjust the filling as needed. The entire process takes 20 to 30 minutes for a typical cavity.

Does the Dental Filling Procedure Have Side Effects?

Your filled tooth may feel sensitive to pressure, temperature, or sweet foods in the days following the procedure. Usually, this subsides quickly, but let your dentist know if you still feel sensitivity two to four weeks after a tooth filling. 

Some individuals have concerns about the mercury content in silver amalgam fillings and blame these fillings for the development of conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and autism spectrum disorder. However, these claims have been refuted by countless public health agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration and the American Dental Association. No scientific evidence suggests that silver fillings pose these or other dangers to patients. Mixing mercury with zinc, tin, copper, silver, and other metals creates a stable compound that dentists have safely used for more than a century.

At Blue Ash Dental Group, we provide high-quality oral care in our friendly, modern office setting. Our comprehensive services include dental fillings for all ages. Contact us today to schedule an appointment at our convenient Cincinnati location.