Dental Fillings New York
A Reliable Way to Repair Small Cavities
Living with a cavity is unpleasant and painful. The throbbing pain and tooth sensitivity can make eating, talking, and other everyday activities a nightmare. To add insult to injury, the cavity could lead to infection and permanent tooth damage.
To treat your cavity and prevent more severe oral issues, you need a timely dental filling. At Lux Smiles, our New York dentists have the knowledge and experience necessary to safely treat your cavity and restore your oral health. For professional dental fillings in Gramercy Park, NYC, and the surrounding neighborhoods, call Lux Smiles at (212) 777-7126.
What Causes a Cavity?
Cavities are small holes in the teeth that typically form when sugar particles in your mouth combine with bacteria. That combination creates plaque, which eats away tooth enamel and causes tooth decay. Some main culprits of cavity formation are failure to maintain good oral hygiene, eating and drinking sugar in excess, acid reflux, and smoking.
How Dental Fillings Treat Cavities
During the dental filling procedure, your dentist drills into your tooth to remove the decayed portion. This removal helps prevent the tooth from further damage and future infection. The dentist then inserts the filling into the cavity to replace the decayed area and prevent the infection from spreading.
Dental fillings strengthen the tooth, as the hole previously presented structural integrity issues. They will also relieve the pain caused by the cavity while restoring your smile to its natural appearance.
Dental Filling Materials
Dentists use several different dental filling materials, including:
Composite Fillings
Composite is the most common material for dental fillings because it can match the shade of your teeth, resulting in the most natural look. Composites are also popular due to the lack of drilling required relative to the other materials. Composite fillings bond directly to the tooth rather than simply filling the hole, so you’ll lose less of the healthy portion of your tooth.
Amalgam Fillings
Amalgams are metal mixtures used for dental fillings. Since the metal expands and contracts with varying temperatures, amalgam fillings can fracture the surrounding tooth. Amalgam fillings are also known to cause more tooth sensitivity than composite material, and they won’t be able to match the hue of your teeth to provide a natural appearance.
Gold Fillings
Like amalgam fillings, gold fillings are a mixture of several metals. These fillings also expand and contract at different temperatures, creating the risk of a fracture. Gold is probably the most durable filling material, but it comes at a higher price.
At Lux Smiles, we only use high-end dental filling material that is both safe and effective. Our dental professionals will discuss your options with you to determine which solution is best for your oral health and budget.