Traditional Fillings

The most common form of restoration is the filling. The procedure itself is very simple. If necessary, a local anesthetic is used to completely numb the area of the tooth to be filled. After the area has been anesthetized, any decay is removed and the tooth interior is shaped to accept the filling.

The filling material is then pressed into place and shaped to create a natural surface contour.

Resin Composite Restorations

The procedure for a composite restoration is essentially the same as for a traditional amalgam filling. After the tooth has been cleared of decay and properly shaped, the interior is then etched with a mild acid solution to aid bonding to the composite filling material.

Here, the tooth is banded, and the composite is applied in successive layers. Each layer in turn is hardened with a high-intensity light. When the cavity is completely filled, the surface of the restoration is shaped to match the contours of the original enamel.