Why it will not heal
Very early decay, before the surface has broken, can remineralise with fluoride and better cleaning. That is worth trying and it is why a dentist sometimes says to watch a spot rather than drill it.
Once the surface has actually broken, there is a hole with bacteria living in it that a toothbrush cannot reach. Enamel has no blood supply and no capacity to repair a cavity. From that point it only goes one direction, at a speed that depends on diet and hygiene rather than on luck.
What the appointment involves
- FreezingFor anything but the shallowest filling. It takes a few minutes to work and is tested before starting.
- Removing the decayThe soft, infected tooth structure comes out. Healthy tooth is left.
- Building it backComposite is placed in layers and hardened with a light. It is shaped and polished to match the bite.
- Checking the biteYou bite on marking paper and it is adjusted until it feels normal. Say if it feels high -- a filling that is fractionally too tall will ache for weeks.
How long a filling lasts
A composite filling in a back tooth typically lasts somewhere between five and fifteen years. The range is that wide because it depends on the size of the filling, whether you grind, and how well the area is cleaned.
Fillings are not permanent and none of them are. They are replaced when the edge starts leaking or decay appears underneath, which is one of the things being looked for at a recall visit.
A very large filling in a back tooth is often better served by an inlay or a crown. At a certain size there is not enough tooth left around the filling to hold it, and it becomes a question of when it splits rather than whether.
Silver or white
This practice places composite, the tooth-coloured material. It bonds to the tooth, needs less healthy structure removed to hold it, and matches.
Existing amalgam fillings that are sound do not need replacing. Removing a functioning filling to change its colour means removing tooth around it, and that is a cosmetic decision with a real cost to the tooth.
Common questions
Asked at the front desk.
How long does a filling take?
Twenty to forty minutes for a single filling, including freezing. Several in the same area are often done in one appointment.
Can a cavity heal on its own?
Only before the surface breaks. Very early decay can remineralise with fluoride and better cleaning. Once there is an actual hole, it cannot repair itself.
Why does my new filling feel high?
It probably is, and it is a two-minute adjustment. Call rather than waiting it out -- a filling fractionally too tall makes the tooth ache and can crack it.
Do you remove old silver fillings?
Not unless there is a reason: decay underneath, a crack, or a failing edge. Replacing a sound filling means removing healthy tooth around it.
Next step
One phone call, and someone answers it.
3608 Carrington Rd #204, West Kelowna. Thursdays until 7pm, Fridays from 7am. Accepting new patients of every age.