Dental Fillings Berkeley
Sometimes you get cavities. Yes, keeping up with regular dental cleanings and brushing and flossing like we tell you will reduce your chances of getting cavities, but sometimes it still happens to even our most diligent patients. When it does, the first line of defense to keep the rest of your mouth healthy is to see us for a mercury free dental filling in Berkeley.
What are Dental Fillings?
Fillings can be made out of a number of different materials, although most patients now prefer tooth-colored fillings over the old-school amalgam or silver metal ones that are visible when you speak or chew. These new fillings match the shade of your teeth more closely without sacrificing any of the strength of the traditional metals.
Why Would I Need a Dental Filling?
A dental filling is used to replace an area where decay (a cavity) is starting to form. If left untreated, cavities can cause a tooth to decay so severely that it may crack or fall out entirely, so staying regular with your exams allows Dr. Tapaltsyan to catch these problems early. If you have a small cavity, that area of weakness is removed and a strong, bonded filling takes its place.
What Makes Mercury Free Fillings Better?
Some older metallic fillings contained small amounts of mercury. And while that amount of mercury is unlikely to cause any medical problems we don’t use them as much anymore. Patient’s don’t like to show signs they’ve had a cavity filled. Today our Berkeley dental fillings are mercury free, made out of a composite, tooth-colored material. If you currently have a metal filling and are concerned about showing silver in your mouth when you talk, we’re happy to swap out that filling for one of the tooth-colored, mercury free ones we now use.
What to Expect When Getting a Tooth Filled
Once a cavity is identified, most patients will receive local anesthetic to numb the affected tooth. Or dentists will then carve into the tooth to remove all decay and mold a space where the filling can be placed. The gel-like filling is then applied, hardened using curing light and polished to come out looking just like the rest of your shimmering smile.
Get In Touch:
Office Hours:
Monday: 8AM - 5PM
Tuesday: 8AM - 5PM
Wednesday: 8AM - 5PM
Thursday: 8AM - 5PM
Friday: 8AM - 5PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday Closed