What is a composite filling?
A composite filling is a material used to “fill-in” the area of a tooth that is removed when you have a cavity. It is composed of a mixture of resin and finely ground glasslike particles. The composite material is tooth-colored, thus, unlike silver-colored amalgam fillings, it closely matches your natural tooth.
What to expect during the treatment
Dr. Omeltschenko will begin by administering a local anesthetic to numb the area being treated for your comfort. Using a dental drill, he will remove the area of decay and shape the tooth to hold the filling. The drill will be slightly noisy and you can expect to feel some pressure, but no pain. Next, the inner tooth enamel is etched so the composite material will better bond to the tooth. Then the composite material is placed into the tooth and hardened with a curing light.
What to expect after the treatment
Recovery is often immediate and there are no restrictions on your new filling – simply treat it as you would any other tooth. You may have sensitivity after your numbness wears off, especially if the area of decay that was removed was large. You may also find that when you bite down you are hitting on the tooth that was worked on first because the filling is seated up higher than your other teeth. This is called a “high bite” and you should call the office and schedule to have it adjusted as soon as possible. The adjustment only takes about 10 minutes. If your high bite is not corrected, you will experience pain because essentially your tooth is becoming bruised from taking so much of the force when you chew and can result in trauma to the pulp of the tooth.
As with any dental treatment, the success and longevity of the work depends on how well you maintain it. It is important that you follow any home care instructions, including oral hygiene and dietary instructions, come in for routine exams and cleanings, take prescribed medications and report to the office any changes in your health status.
How much does a composite filling cost?
While dentist’s fees vary, in Cincinnati the average range for a composite filling is between $100 and $250 depending on the size of the cavity being treated.