Care & Procedures

Tooth Colored Fillings

There are multiple types of fillings that can be done but the two main types are tooth colored composite and the older silver amalgam filling. All fillings have the benefit that they remove dental disease and restore the tooth to a stable strong condition. The additional benefits of tooth colored fillings include:

• They are Beautiful
• They are strong; restoring the tooth to its original strength
• They are generally less sensitive than silver fillings as plastic is less conductive to temperature than metal

Post-Procedural Care

For most fillings you will be numb. This numbness generally wears off in 2-4 hours. Once the numbness wears off your new composite restoration should be ready for use.

It is normal to experience

• Some swelling at the injection sites this should resolve in 2 to 4 days
• Some soreness of the jaw on opening and closing. This is caused either by the injection or because you were holding open for the duration of the appointment
• Increased sensitivity in that tooth for a time (a couple of days to a month)
• If you notice that the bite feels high once the numbing has worn off please notify us right away. The filling material is very hard and you cannot grind into it. We will get you in to adjust the bite
• You might also notice that the gums or adjacent teeth feel like they have a thin coating on them. This is our bonding agent and it will naturally come off in 2-3 days