One of the most common dental procedures used today, dental fillings are used to repair teeth that are damaged or decayed, restoring oral health and maintaining the integrity of the natural tooth. They can serve both a restorative and cosmetic purpose as part of maintaining lasting oral health.

Washington dentists Dr. John and Dr. Jeremi Arroyo place dental fillings when necessary and also replace old, dark fillings to improve both oral health and the appearance of a patient’s smile. The material recommended for a dental filling will depend on the location of the tooth and severity of the decay or damage to be addressed.

White Fillings: What Are The Benefits?

Old, dark fillings can be replaced with white fillings to both enhance your smile and improve your dental health.

Over time, old fillings can degrade and leak, allowing additional decay and damage to occur. Dr. John and Dr. Jeremi Arroyo will examine your dental fillings and determine if they need replacement to keep the tooth healthy. If your tooth cavity or damaged tooth is in what is considered the “smile zone”, a white filling provides a cosmetic solution to your dental problem.

Dental Fillings What to Expect

Your dentist at District Dental Solutions will begin by cleaning and preparing the affected tooth, removing old fillings if necessary. Depending in the severity of the cavity or damage, a local anesthetic may be applied to ensure your complete comfort during treatment.

After placing the filling material into the affected area, Dr. Arroyo will cure it with a special light. The filling will be polished and adjusted if necessary for a comfortable fit.

Resin tooth fillings are typically placed during a single visit, and dental onlays can be fabricated while you wait with CEREC technology.