Dental Fillings in North Vancouver

Restorative Dentistry

Dental Fillings in North Vancouver

Occasionally, minor tooth decay requires a dental filling in order to restore strength to the tooth and prevent further damage.

Sugars in the foods and drinks we consume provide a boost to certain bacteria in our mouths which feed on the sugar and create acidic conditions. Over time, these acidic conditions in the mouth are what cause tooth decay.

Here at Pier Dental Centre, we always recommend composite fillings as a natural looking treatment for tooth decay. Composite fillings are made of tooth-colored materials and create a less obtrusive solution that blends easily into your smile.

What is Dental Fillings?

For a dental filling, the decayed part of the tooth is carefully removed and replaced with an artificial material. This material then essentially forms a part of your tooth and prevents any further decay into the tooth itself.

Benefits of Dental Fillings

Composite dental fillings look and act like regular teeth and have several benefits:

Composite fillings blend easily into your natural tooth color and are less esily noticed than traditional silver fillings.
Composite fillings can be used to ‘reshape’ disfigured teeth to create a better looking smile.
Composite fillings can also be used to restore chipped or broken teeth.
Composite fillings also bond chemically to the surface of the tooth itself to provide a stronger and more durable bond.

How are Dental Fillings Done?

Dental surgeon transferring filling from spatula to carver

Your dentist will usually perform an x-ray or examination on the tooth to assess the extent of the damage or decay.
Once that is completed, your dentist will numb the area of the mouth where the tooth is located with a local anesthetic injection.
The next step is to remove the decayed area of the tooth using a small drill or laser.
Once your dentist is confident that the decay has been removed and the remaining surface of the tooth is in good condition, they will insert the material that you have chosen for the filling.
Finally, your dentist will finish and polish the filling to ensure it fits naturally and comfortably in your mouth and doesn’t interfer with your bite.
You’ll be back to eating and drinking regularly again in just a few hours.