What are White Fillings?

Finding out that you have a cavity is never the ideal news when you come in for a routine checkup, but coming in every six months for preventive dentistry will ensure that if there is a cavity, our dentist, Dr. Thao Bui-Nguyen, is able to catch it early on when it’s easy to treat. Whether you just found out that you have a cavity or you just want to learn more about what goes into getting a dental filling, you’ve come to the right place!

More about White Fillings

Once we find a cavity the only solution is to remove the decaying areas of the tooth. Remember, a cavity will not heal itself. The only way to treat a cavity is to drill away the decayed enamel to prevent it from spreading further. Before we treat the cavity we will first numb the area with local anesthesia. Once the area is completely numb, we will use a dental drill to remove the decay.

Now that the decay has been thoroughly removed, we can focus on rebuilding and restoring the tooth. After all, a cavity can make a tooth weaker and our goal is to restore and strengthen the tooth again with a dental filling.

While dental fillings can be made from different kinds of material, here in our dental office, we use tooth-colored or composite resin fillings instead of metal amalgam fillings. After all, there is nothing more aesthetically pleasing than placing a dental filling that actually blends right in with the rest of your teeth. You will never even notice your filling!

Specifics about the Treatment

To apply the dental filling, we will first choose the appropriate shade of composite resin to match the tooth. This resin is then applied in layers to the cavity, where we will shape and mold the filling over the tooth. Once it has been shaped, we will harden the filling to the tooth with a laser. From there, another layer will be applied until the tooth is fully restored.

While the average composite resin filling lasts a minimum of 5 years, by maintaining good oral hygiene and visiting our dentist every six months for routine check-ups, you could have your filling for up to 10 years or longer!

To learn more about white fillings, 
Call our Manassas, VA dental office at (703) 361-3261 today!