Dental Fillings in Phoenix, AZ

With good oral hygiene habits and eating a healthy diet, you can avoid most tooth decay issues. However, if you do get a cavity, our dentists at Arizona Family Dentistry in Phoenix, AZ have several materials to choose from to fill your tooth. There are many factors to consider when choosing which material to use to fill cavities.

Types of Filling Materials

There are five materials dentists can choose from when you need a cavity filled. These materials include:

Composite Fillings – Composite fillings are also known as filled resins or composite resins. They are popular because the material is durable and blends in well with your natural teeth. Your dentist can order composite fillings in a shade of white that closely matches your teeth.

Ceramic – Some ceramic, or porcelain, fillings are as expensive as gold fillings, but many people like them because they look like natural teeth due to their color.

Glass Ionomer – Another material that looks like natural teeth is glass ionomer fillings. However, they are not as durable as other filling materials, and they may need replacing in as little as five years.

Considerations for Selecting Fillings

Some of the filling materials may not be covered by insurance because the company may consider the material you choose as an aesthetic choice and not necessary for use. However, if you want a material that isn’t covered by insurance, ask our dentists at Arizona Family Dentistry in Phoenix, AZ about financing to pay for it.

Procedure: An Overview of Dental Fillings

To increase your comfort during the procedure, our dentist will first administer a local anesthetic to ensure the area around the affected tooth is numb. Next, the decay in the damaged tooth will be removed using tools and techniques designed for pain-free gentle dentistry. The area is then cleaned in preparation for the dental material that is used to fill the area of the cavity. And finally, our dentist will conclude the dental filling procedure by ensuring that its placement is comfortable and functional. Most patients can resume their normal activities immediately afterward.