Fillings Specialist

What are fillings?

A filling repairs teeth that have decayed or been damaged due to cavities, cracks, breaks, or gradual wear and tear. Your child may even need a filling to repair a tooth that has been impacted by repeated teeth grinding, nail-biting, and more.

While many filling materials are available, RyeSmiles Pediatric Dentistry offers composite fillings, or tooth-colored fillings, to their pediatric patients to ensure natural-looking results.

The team also offers tooth-colored glass ionomer restorations, which bond to your child’s tooth and release fluoride over a long period of time to help ensure the longevity of your child’s tooth while inhibiting the development of caries in the surrounding teeth. 

What can I expect from the filling process?

Overall, it takes between 30 to 60 minutes to complete a filling, though times will vary depending on your child’s unique case. First, your child's dentist painlessly numbs the area surrounding their tooth with a local anesthetic before removing the decayed portion of your child’s tooth.

During the procedure, the team may use the Ivory® ReLeaf™ hands-free high volume evacuation (HVE) device to suction saliva, or another device, called the DryShield®, to suction saliva while acting as a bite block and tongue shield during your child’s procedure. Both of these devices help to ensure your child’s comfort.

Once the area has been thoroughly cleaned, your child's provider fills the tooth with a special filling material. For composite fillings, they then apply a tooth-colored material in thin layers, using a curing light to harden each layer. This ensures a natural appearance for your child's tooth before it’s trimmed, shaped, and polished to perfection.

Composite fillings are most often used to restore damaged teeth or tooth decay in the front of the mouth, but they can be used in the back of the mouth, too. By the time your child leaves the RyeSmiles Pediatric Dentistry office, their new filling will look and feel identical to the rest of their natural teeth.

After the filling is complete, the team offers Oraverse™ to help decrease the time your child is numb after their procedure.

When should I replace my filling?

Like any dental restoration, fillings must be properly cared for and replaced over time to keep teeth healthy and strong. Most fillings last for several years. However, jaw clenching, teeth grinding, and mouth injuries can dramatically impact the reliability of your child's filling.

In addition to routine bi-annual checkups with the RyeSmiles Pediatric Dentistry team, make it a point to examine your child's filling regularly. If you notice any cracks around the filling, schedule an appointment right away. The RyeSmiles Pediatric Dentistry dentist may recommend repairing the filling or protecting your child's tooth with a dental crown instead.

To learn more about fillings, call RyeSmiles Pediatric Dentistry, or request an appointment online today.