Fillings and Sealants
Dealing with a cavity or hoping to prevent them? Dental fillings are the go-to way to treat tooth decay and stop it in its tracks, while sealants lower your risk of getting it in the first place. Our dentists in O’Fallon, IL, at The Dental Studio of Southern Illinois offer both of these services to keep severe cavities and tooth decay at bay!
What Are Dental Fillings?
They’re materials used to fill in spaces left after we remove a tooth’s decayed areas. We also use fillings to repair teeth that have certain kinds of damage, like cracks or chips, or make worn or weak teeth stronger.
What Are Sealants?
These are coatings placed on your back teeth to fill in the crevices and grooves where bacteria can gather and cause plaque to form. Sealants help protect your molars and premolars from tooth decay and cavities.
When You Might Need a Dental Filling or Sealants
We may recommend fillings and sealants in O’Fallon, IL, for any of the following reasons:
- You want extra protection from cavities
- You have a cavity that needs treatment
- You have a cracked or chipped tooth
- You have a weak or eroded tooth
What Benefits Do Sealants Offer?
Do you worry that you’re not cleaning your back teeth enough? All of the grooves in those surfaces can be hard to keep clean and make sure no food particles are left. Sealants cover these surfaces, making them much easier to brush — and stopping bacteria from affecting them.
What Types of Fillings Are There?
Fillings come in different materials with their own advantages and disadvantages. Metal fillings containing amalgam used to be a standard option, but not anymore! We offer composite fillings that are tooth-colored, so other people won’t notice that you have them.
What to Expect When Getting a Filling or Sealant
For a filling, we remove decayed/damaged portions of your tooth first, then fill in the area with material that strengthens and protects it. For sealants, we paint the coating onto your molars and premolars to reduce your risk of tooth decay.
How Long Do Fillings and Sealants Last?
Sealants and fillings may last for a decade or so, though certain filling materials, such as metal, can last longer.
Schedule an Appointment to Protect Your Teeth!
Do you need a decayed tooth treated? Or looking for added protection against cavities? At The Dental Studio of Southern Illinois, we offer fillings and sealants in O’Fallon, IL, to help keep your teeth safe from tooth decay and damage.
