At Dr. Jacob Grapevine’s Plano dentist office, we focus on preventing cavities and gum disease through routine oral care. Unfortunately, even with the best care, most patients will have to deal with a tooth cavity in their lifetime. Dental fillings can fix tooth damage, decay, and cavities. Dr. Grapevine specializes in esthetic dental fillings in Plano, TX, more commonly known as “white fillings.”
White dental fillings use tooth-colored composite resins to repair minor tooth decay or minimal damage to the surface of teeth. We commonly hear from new patients that they had a poorly done filling at another practice. Poorly done fillings are still sensitive and prevent patients from chewing properly.
Our office rarely has this problem because of our thorough filling process and high-quality materials. Visit our cosmetic dentistry office in Plano, TX, today for a thorough dental exam. In addition to providing white fillings to our patients, we offer various general dentistry services to maintain your teeth and gums.
Signs You Need a Dental Filling
You need a filling if you have a cavity or a hole in your tooth. However, other multiple signs indicate you need a filling:
- Uneven tooth surface
- Worn teeth
- Toothaches
- Tooth sensitivity to hot and cold
- White, brown, or black spots on teeth
- Pits in your teeth
Please get in touch with our office if you experience any of these symptoms. When you visit our office, we will perform an examination and take digital X-rays of your teeth and gums. Additionally, we will perform a root canal if you have a tooth infection. Then, we will place a filling.
Waiting to treat tooth damage or infection can lead to increased tooth pain, sensitivity, and tooth loss. We recommend visiting us as soon as you notice a change in the comfort and function of your teeth.
What To Expect: Dental Fillings in Plano
In most cases, we can place a dental filling during a single visit to our Plano dentist’s office. Using a local anesthetic for your comfort, Dr. Grapevine will prepare the affected tooth by removing any decay. Many patients fear pain when they get a filling. However, this anesthetic will numb your tooth so you do not feel pain during treatment.
Then, Dr. Grapevine will clean your tooth before skillfully placing the composite resin material and sculpting it into place. The composite will give you a natural-looking and comfortable surface for normal chewing and speaking. If you get a porcelain inlay or onlay, we will take dental impressions to create your custom restoration.
We recommend waiting until the anesthetic wears off before eating after your filling treatment. Your filling should last many years with good oral hygiene and routine dental care. You can brush and floss fillings like natural teeth to prevent further decay.
What Are Cosmetic Fillings?
Cosmetic dental fillings are more comfortable than traditional metal fillings. These tooth fillings are made from a biocompatible composite resin in various tooth-colored shades. Many patients replace their metal fillings with new white fillings that are virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth.
Dr. Grapevine may suggest a porcelain filling for patients with more significant damage. These fillings, also called inlays and onlays, protect the teeth from future damage while also restoring their beauty and function. Porcelain can be matched to the exact shade of your teeth, making it virtually indistinguishable from neighboring teeth.
We bond a dental inlay to the tooth’s center and a dental onlay to the entire biting surface. Inlays and onlays are comfortable and durable. With proper care, these treatments can last for years.
Dr. Grapevine prefers a white filling when treating tooth decay or damage. White fillings are safe, durable, and aesthetically pleasing. They are made to blend with the color of your existing natural teeth. Common materials for a white filling include a biocompatible composite resin or a ceramic material.
Depending on your needs and cosmetic goals, Dr. Grapevine will work with you to achieve the best results. He will ensure your fillings look great and support your long-term oral health.
Replacing Metal Dental Fillings in Plano, TX
Dr. Grapevine can replace old, broken-down amalgam (metal) fillings with white dental fillings (composites) to restore your smile. For people who have had to suffer from seeing metal in their smile, replacing the old fillings with white fillings will give them a more natural look. With today’s advancements, you no longer have to suffer the embarrassment of metal fillings.
We will first take diagnostic images of the tooth to ensure no adverse effects from removing the old filling. Then, Dr. Grapevine will replace the metal filling with a virtually indistinguishable white filling.
Dental Fillings FAQs
Learn more about dental fillings in our Plano, TX office with answers to these common patient questions:
Is it bad to have a lot of fillings?
No. Having a lot of dental fillings does not necessarily mean bad oral health. It’s much better to have many fillings than to undergo many root canal procedures and advanced restorative treatments. Restoring your teeth to good health before it’s too late is never wrong.
Does a filling weaken a tooth?
No, a filling will not weaken your tooth. Decay weakens teeth. A tooth with a cavity is already weakened even before getting a filling, so the filling does not weaken the tooth. A dental filling adds support and strength to a tooth affected by decay.
Do I need fillings for small cavities?
Yes, all cavities should be filled as soon as they are detected. Filling a cavity and addressing tooth decay in the early stages greatly reduces the need for more expensive treatments. A dental filling procedure is quick and painless. Don’t avoid a cavity filling, even for a small cavity.
Protect Your Teeth
Save a tooth from extraction or loss with a filling. Call Dr. Grapevine at (972) 449-5759 to replace metal fillings and get white dental fillings in Plano, TX. You can also schedule an appointment online.
Let us know if you have any questions about tooth fillings. We’re here to help you. We proudly serve patients from Stone Creek, Woodhaven, and Ports O’Call.