Tooth restorations, like dental fillings, are necessary to maintain optimal oral health.
What Is a Dental Filling?
Dental fillings are used to repair cavities, chips, and cracks in the teeth and can be used to fill gaps or protect a tooth's root from further damage. Fillings are called for in the event of a cavity or lesion on the surface of a tooth in order to restore the tooth's strength and protect against further damage or decay. Most dental fillings are pretty straightforward and completed quickly during the course of a single dental visit.
This process consists of the dentist removing decay and preparing the tooth. Dental fillings are made from a variety of materials, including a silver alloy amalgam (mercury mixed with silver, tin, zinc, and copper), gold alloys, and porcelain. The material used for each filling is usually determined by the type of tooth in question and the extent and characteristics of the damage to the tooth.
How Long Do Dental Fillings Typically Last?
There are a number of factors that determine just how long a dental filling will last. These include the materials used in the composition of the filling (for instance, ceramic lasts much longer than composite), the patient's eating habits and oral hygiene, the pre-filling level of damage to the tooth (cracks, chips, wear, decay), and the amount and severity of decay around the filling. Thus, just how long a dental filling "should" last tends to vary from person to person.
Typically, however, a dental filling can be expected to last for anywhere between seven and fifteen years, with most lasting around a decade. Even better, in most cases, your dentist will be able to tailor the color of a dental filling to match that of the surrounding teeth, allowing you to immediately enjoy the benefits of greater dental health and the confidence that comes with flashing a natural-looking smile.
Dental Fillings in New Orleans
If you're in need of fillings and the New Orleans area, dentist Dr. Russell Schafer and the team at NOLA Dentures & General Dentistry specialize in the placement of dental fillings carefully matched to your natural color. That's certainly something to smile about.