Treat Cavities and Protect Your Teeth with Dental Fillings

Dental fillings help restore and protect teeth that have been damaged by decay. The fillings can be made from a variety of materials that are customized to meet your oral health needs and budget. If you are seeking to treat one or more cavities or wish to replace your amalgam dental filling, Dr. Douglas Pohl performs the restorative treatment for patients in Fort Walton Beach, Destin, and Pensacola, FL. Dr. Pohl has been practicing cosmetic, preventive, and family dentistry for over 30 years.

Benefits of Dental Fillings

Dental fillings provide a wide range of oral health benefits. Patients who undergo this quick and affordable treatment at our Fort Walton Beach dental practice can benefit in the following ways:

• Reduced sensitivity: By restoring your tooth’s structure following decay, dental fillings can aid in lowering your risk for sensitivity to hot and cold food/drinks. In general, dental fillings can help reduce discomfort by providing a barrier between the sensitive inner part of your tooth and the outside environment.
• A more attractive smile: Dental fillings can be color-matched to blend with your natural smile. Patients can also choose to replace their metal amalgam fillings with composite resin fillings.  
• Prevention of long-term dental problems: Dental fillings are restorative in nature, but they serve a preventive role as well. By filling in the gaps left after cavity removal, dental fillings help prevent further decay. When left untreated, cavities can require more invasive treatments such as dental crowns or tooth extraction.
• A cost-effective procedure: Dental fillings are one of the most affordable dental treatments available to patients. Most dental insurance plans cover part or all of the costs associated with cavity removal and the placement of dental fillings. 

Am I a Candidate for Fillings?

If you are experiencing oral pain or have heightened sensitivity to hot or cold food/drinks, you may be a good candidate for the restorative benefits of dental fillings. Often, patients can see the telltale signs of a cavity on the surface of their teeth. Cavities are small holes that are often dark in color. Risk factors for cavities include poor oral hygiene, a young age (4 to 18), poor diet, and gum disease. During your visit, Dr. Pohl will ask about your symptoms before conducting an examination of your teeth. If you do require dental fillings, the procedure can be performed quickly at that time or during a second appointment.

How Are Dental Fillings Placed?

Dr. Pohl offers multiple options for dental fillings, including tooth-colored composite resin and amalgam. While public concerns have arisen over the use of silver amalgam fillings, which contain trace amounts of mercury, there are no known health risks associated with the use of amalgam. Patients who wish to have natural-looking fillings placed can benefit from composite resin fillings, which are color-matched to your smile.

Dental fillings restore oral health following tooth decay and are a quick and effective treatment.

Dental fillings can be placed during one visit to our Fort Walton Beach dental practice. First, Dr. Pohl will need to remove any decay from your tooth. For larger cavities, local anesthesia can be applied before Dr. Pohl uses a small tool to remove decay and bacteria from the tooth’s surface. Then, the treated area will be cleaned before either tooth-colored resin or silver amalgam is placed in the treatment area to restore your tooth’s structure.

Side effects resulting from dental fillings are rare. Most patients are fully recovered within hours of their initial appointment. Patients who receive tooth-colored resin can eat immediately while individuals with silver amalgam fillings will need to wait for a specific period of time set by Dr. Pohl.

Schedule Your Next Visit Today

Dental fillings restore oral health following tooth decay and are a quick and effective treatment. Our office accepts CareCredit® financing to help patients afford treatment. To schedule your next dental cleaning and exam or dental fillings consultation, contact our office online or call (850) 243-0800.