Composite (White) Fillings
We have restored your teeth with tooth-colored materials. The resin (plastic) materials contain small “filler” particles of glass-like material for strength and wear resistance. These restorations will serve you well for several years. They contain the finest and most up-to-date materials available today. However, you should be aware of the following information about your new restorations:
• As with your natural teeth, avoid chewing excessively hard foods on filled teeth (hard candy, ice, raw carrots, etc.) because the resin material can break under extreme forces.
• Composite fillings setup hard right away. There is no wait time to eat. Children should be observed until the anesthetic wears off. Due to the strange feeling of the anesthetic, many children will chew the inside of their lips, cheeks, or tongue which can cause serious damage.
• Sensitivity to hot and cold is common for a few weeks following a dental restoration. Usually, the deeper the cavity, the more sensitive the tooth will be. If you feel the bite is not correctly balanced, please call for an appointment for a simple adjustment.
• The gum tissue could of been irritated during the procedure and may be sore for a few days along with the anesthetic injection site.
• The finished restoration may be contoured slightly different and have a different texture than the original tooth. Your tongue usually magnifies this small difference, but you will become accustomed to this in a few days.
• Proper brushing, flossing and regular 6-month (minimal) cleanings are essential to the long term stability and appearance of your restorations. Often, problems that may develop with the fillings can be found at an early stage and repaired easily, while waiting for a longer time may require more extensive treatment.
1. When a tooth has a cavity the Dentist removes the decay and fills the hole with a filling material, the tooth supports the filling. The ideal filling is no more than 50% of the tooth. This leaves half of the tooth to support the filling. When you get a cavity that takes up 60% or more of the tooth, a crown is indicated. A crown covers the entire tooth and holds the tooth together. Sometimes we place a filling thinking there is enough tooth to hold the filling when actually there is not. The tooth then starts to break away because it can no longer support the filling. In this case we will credit the cost of the filling towards the crown. In addition, for a period of two years from the date of service, we will replace the filling-due to breakage, misfit or decay at no additional cost.
2. This warranty is null and void if the patient does not maintain their 6 month recall cleaning appointments.
