Dental fillings or restorations are sometimes needed to restore the function and integrity of teeth. Fillings are often needed as a result of tooth decay (caries), trauma, and broken teeth. Very often, the dentist will intentionally remove part of an existing tooth which is decayed or damaged to prepare it for the intended restorative material. Dental restorations and fillings last a long time if properly done, but their lifespan depends largely on the patient’s care of the restoration through regular brushing and flossing.
The options for dental fillings or restorations have expanded significantly in recent years, and we urge our patients and their families to review all the options to make an informed confident decision.
Dental restorations, generally, fall into two categories based on the method:
Direct restorations are fillings placed immediately into a prepared cavity generally in a single visit. These include amalgams, resin and composite fillings which ever you chose. We assure the patient is comfortable with the appropriate anesthesia, and then we carefully prepare the tooth, insert the “filling” and shape it during one visit. We provide nitrous oxide, a form of sedation dentistry for your comfort.
Indirect restorations most often require more than one visit. These include inlays, on lays, veneers, crowns or bridges fabricated of various materials. Such a course of treatment is undertaken only after careful discussion. In the first visit, we assure the patient is comfortable and make a digital impression of the tooth or teeth in the area to be treated. This digital impression is then sent to one of our carefully chosen collaborating laboratories, where a dental restoration is created. In the next appointment, the restoration is affixed (bonded) to the prepared tooth and/or teeth, and adjusted as necessary so that the patient is comfortable.
The dentists at Family Dentistry of Braintree can provide a comprehensive assessment of restoration and or filling requirements, and evaluate the condition of existing restorations. We then plan, with you, the best way to create functional, attractive restorations and fillings. Family Dentistry of Braintree is dedicated to protecting and improving your and your family’s oral health, while delivering safe treatments.
Family Dentistry of Braintree is a tradition for personal dental care for over 60 years. Richard and Philip Struzziero are second generation family dentists serving the South Shore area from their convenient location on Washington Street in Braintree, Massachusetts.