Cavity Fillings in Buffalo, NY
Experienced Williamsville Dentist Specializing in Composite Fillings & Sealing Cavities in WNY
Douglas Hamill DDS provides cavity fillings and other restorative dental services to patients throughout Amherst, Williamsville, and the greater Buffalo area.
Fillings are placed on the surfaces of teeth and are used to reduce the gaps that appear on teeth due to weathering, fracture, grinding, or decay. When most of a tooth is still intact, a filling is an ideal choice to reconstruct the tooth and protect the inner dentin and pulp from the potential of a bacterial infection.
Fillings vary according to the size of the cavity. If you have a large cavity, we will administer local anesthesia, drill out the cavity, place a dentine bonding agent in the space, insert the white filling, and harden the filling with light. This procedure is typically smooth and simple. The cost of a filling depends on how many surfaces of the tooth it covers. Generally, the cost ranges from $100 to $200.
Most fillings are made now from composite, synthetic resin. There are many companies that manufacture this material, and due to its popularity, cost efficiency, and versatility, we use composite resin as a filling material in all our dental procedures.
There has been much debate about the safety and usefulness of mercury amalgam fillings, another trendy option. There is no scientific consensus on the matter, but nevertheless, our office has not used amalgam mercury filling in over 10 years.
Once you and your dentist decide that you are a strong candidate for a filling, your dentist will select a resin or another material that most closely matches the color of your teeth. Then, your tooth will be cleaned, and any degraded area will be removed. Your dentist will apply the filling material to your tooth and mold it into the proper form before it can harden.
The procedure is typically quick to complete and both simple and noninvasive in its scope. The days immediately after the installation of a filling may be somewhat uncomfortable—you will have to become accustomed to chewing with a new addition to your mouth—so take caution as you ease back into eating, drinking, and recreation.
How long do cavity fillings last?
Fillings will last for quite some time. The material used in fillings is strong and once it has been bonded to a tooth, the filling will remain in place for years. The exact length of time that a filling will last depends mostly on its location on the tooth. If the filling is at the gum line or the very edge of a tooth, it might not last as long as it would if it were on a flat surface.
Will I be in pain after a filling?
Once a filling is done, there is usually no pain. If the cavity was deep and near a nerve, there is a chance that the nerve could react, and you may have pain afterwards. If the pain persists, you should notify your dentist as soon as you can.
What types of fillings are available?
An indirect filling is when a dentist takes an impression of a tooth, the filling is cast, and the filling is then cemented into the tooth. There are temporary fillings, but “temporary” is the operative word. These fillings are recommended only for when you are waiting on a more permanent option to be installed at a later point.
If you have questions about dental fillings, or would like to schedule your regular check-up, please contact our Buffalo dental office and schedule an appointment today.
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Featured Review
I absolutely love Dr. Hamill and his staff! I have never been so happy and actually excited to go to the dentist. The quality of restoration thru fillings and crowns that he has done for me is stellar. What an amazing gift he has, it’s la work of art. – Jaimeelynn R