Fill your damaged tooth and restore its full function!
What are tooth coloured restorations
When a cavity needs to be treated, our dentist at Byron Family Dental uses a tooth coloured restoration, also known as a filling or composite resin, to restore the damaged tooth.
Tooth coloured restorations can also be used to help restore teeth that are cracked, broken or worn down.
How are tooth coloured restorations placed
The affected area will first be numbed using a local anaesthetic. This is done to make sure there is no pain during the procedure.
Once the affected tooth is completely numbed, the dentist will use dental hand pieces and burs to remove all the decay from the tooth.
After the decay has been removed, the dentist will check for any remaining decay by probing the area that is affected. A decay-detecting agent will be used to stain the tooth and identify any decay that has been left behind after the removal procedure.
Once all the decay has been removed, the dentist will clean the cavity of any bacteria, and thereafter prepare the tooth for the restoration.
When the tooth is prepared and ready for the restoration, a special light will be used to harden the tooth coloured material as it is being applied in layers onto the tooth.
After the layers of the tooth coloured material has been applied and placed, the dentist will shape the material, trim off any material that is left and polish it.
Once the process is complete, the dentist will then check your bite to make sure the tooth coloured restoration was placed correctly and the tooth is functioning properly.
What should I expect after a restoration?
At first there would be some numbness on the area where your tooth was restored. This may occur for about 2 to 3 hours after the procedure, therefore, be very careful and try not to bite on the numbed area. The tooth may be sensitive after the procedure, however, it will eventually recover.
You might experience some pain or discomfort after the numbness wears off. This is normal and will become less painful after a day or so. If you notice that the pain continues and is persistent after a period of time then it is advisable to please contact us at Byron Family Dental immediately.
How can I care for my teeth and restorations?
It is very important to take good care of the health of your teeth by following the suggestions below:
- Eat meals that are healthy that contain plenty of essential nutrients.
- Avoid foods that contain too much of sugar.
- Practice good oral hygiene at all times.
- Brush your teeth twice a day.
- Use a toothpaste that contains fluoride.
- Floss after every meal if you are able to do so, otherwise, floss at least once or twice a day.
- Visiting the dentist regularly is one of the best ways to ensure that proper care is taken of your tooth restoration.
The advantages of tooth coloured restorations
- Tooth coloured restorations are tooth coloured in appearance, therefore, they have a natural look and can hardly be noticed.
- You may eat after your tooth coloured restorations procedure is complete and the numbness wears off. There is no need to wait for the restorations to harden.
- The tooth coloured restorations can also be used to change the shape and colour of your teeth.
- Minimal drilling is required for these restorations since they have adhesive properties.
The disadvantages of tooth coloured restorations
- Tooth coloured restorations can be technically difficult to place onto the tooth.
- Tooth coloured restorations are more expensive than silver fillings since more time, effort, and materials are needed to place them.
- During the procedure, the material can be a bit of a challenge to control in the mouth because it is very sensitive to moisture.
- Tooth coloured restorations require more steps to be completed compared to silver fillings.
Tooth Coloured Restorations in Byron Bay
How would you feel about saving your damaged or decaying tooth instead of losing it? We can help you repair it with tooth coloured restorations! Book an appointment at Byron Family Dental today.