What Are Dental Fillings?
Dental fillings are used to literally “fill” holes created by cavities. They also fill in cracks, wear, or breaks that gradually arise from grinding and chewing. Dental filling is possibly the fastest, most convenient method of tooth repair. Dentists use local anesthesia around the affected tooth before removing the decayed area. After the dental filling is applied, the excess material is trimmed and the tooth polished. The recovery period can last a few weeks in terms of the pain, but some patients experience a continued sensitivity to hot and cold. In those cases, dentists typically recommend special toothpastes for sensitive teeth. There are several materials from which to choose for fillings. The most popular include, gold, porcelain, silver amalgam, or tooth-colored composite resin. Each material has pros and cons to consider. Gold, for instance, is long-lasting, but contrasts with the natural tooth color. Silver amalgam is similar in terms of both durability and its off-color app
