A filling restores a tooth affected by decay or a small fracture. Faced with a cavity, the dentist may decide to monitor how it develops or to restore the tooth right away: significant decay left unrestored can deepen and cause pain. The choice of material depends on the condition of the tooth.
During the exam, along with looking for signs of decay such as brown or black spots, the dentist checks the condition of your existing fillings. They may suggest replacing any that are loose or broken, and take an X-ray to look more closely at a problem area.
Faced with decay, the dentist may choose to monitor how it develops if the cavity is small, or to restore the tooth right away.
Significant decay left unrestored can deepen and cause pain. Eventually, the tooth may have to be extracted and replaced with an artificial tooth.
Decay does not hurt at the start: by the time the pain arrives, it is already further along. That is why you do not wait to feel it before coming in.
Some signs are still worth an appointment without waiting for the next exam: sensitivity to cold or to sweet foods, pain when chewing, food that always catches in the same place, or an existing filling that has cracked or fallen out.
A local anaesthetic is used if needed, depending on how deep the area to be treated is.
The affected tissue is removed, the cavity is cleaned, and the restorative material is then put in place. Finally the dentist checks the way you bite and adjusts the restoration until the contact with the opposing teeth is right.
If an anaesthetic was used, the numbness lasts a few more hours: it is better to avoid chewing on that side until it wears off, so as not to bite yourself.
Passing sensitivity to heat or cold is common in the days that follow. Do call the clinic, however, if the tooth stays sensitive beyond a few weeks, or if you feel the bite coming down harder on the restored tooth.
A dental filling repairs a tooth affected by decay or a small fracture, before the problem gets worse. A tooth that is sensitive to cold or to sweet foods, pain when chewing, a hole in the tooth or a filling that has fallen out are all reasons to come in without waiting. Caught early, often during a routine dental exam, decay is straightforward to treat. Our Repentigny clinic also welcomes patients from Charlemagne, Le Gardeur and L’Assomption.
The treatments that aim to restore the shape and the function of an affected tooth.
A crown is a hollow artificial tooth that covers a damaged one: it restores its shape, appearance and function, and protects it from further damage. It may be needed after a root canal, after a large filling, or when a tooth has broken. An assessment confirms whether it is the right option.
A root canal involves removing the infected, damaged or dead pulp from inside the tooth. When it succeeds, it makes it possible to keep the natural tooth rather than having it extracted, which keeps the other teeth from losing their alignment. An assessment determines whether the situation allows it.
The information presented is general and does not replace an assessment by a professional.
Get in touch with us quickly so that our team can assess the situation and guide you.
