Lake Highlander, Dunedin Florida Dental Fillings

Match the filling to how large the decay is and whether the tooth already reacts to cold. The dentist will look at your case first. Dental Fillings in Lake Highlander, Dunedin start with that match. Because a heavy bite can wear a filling, we check that too. When you step from hot outdoor air into cold indoor air in Lake Highlander, Dunedin, Florida, a tooth can react. So we note it before we pick a material.

After that check, we talk through the materials we place. For example, a small repair often gets a composite filling. It’s tooth-colored and part of our mercury-free dentistry. A wider break may need a porcelain onlay or a crown. And we use an exam and digital x-rays to see how far the decay goes.

Dr. Theresa Rodeghero is fully licensed as a DMD, Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry. She leads our family practice in Clearwater, Florida with a holistic approach. Her team has practiced dentistry for decades. Dr. Grace Garcia and Dr. Vinh Dang bring that same range to exams for patients of all ages. We name the material during the exam, after we see the tooth.

Dental Fillings in Lake Highlander, Dunedin and Which Material Fits

Composite bonds to the tooth, so we can often keep more natural tooth structure. Then we place it in layers and harden each layer with a curing light. Then we shape the biting surface until the tooth meets evenly. Our page on composite fillings covers how that material goes in.

We choose Dental Fillings in Lake Highlander, Dunedin with that hot-and-cold pattern in mind. Afternoon heat outside and cold air conditioning indoors are normal here. When a tooth already reacts to that change, we check for a crack and for deep decay. The dentist will look at your case first, because those findings change the material.

A porcelain inlay or porcelain onlay comes up when the repair is wide and the tooth walls are still useful. When the walls are thin, a crown covers the tooth. We have same-day crown solutions available when a crown is the better repair. The dentist will look at your case first.

Composite can wear if you grind. But a thin edge can chip. So tell us about clenching, because that changes what we recommend. We also want to know about material allergies before we start.

Visit Steps for Dental Fillings in Lake Highlander, Dunedin

We start with an exam. When we need that view, digital x-rays show decay between the teeth. Then an intra-oral camera can put the same spot on a screen you can see. After we agree on the tooth, we numb the area if the case calls for it. But we can do fillings without numbing when Solea laser technology fits the tooth. The dentist will look at your case first.

Then we remove the decay and clean the space. For example, a composite filling gets bonding liquid and then the material. We light-cure it in layers. Then we shape and polish the tooth. After that, we check the bite and adjust any high spot. We often finish a single filling in one appointment. So extra teeth, or a move to a crown, change the visit length.

A visit means a trip from Lake Highlander, Dunedin to our Clearwater, Florida office. We do the work for Dental Fillings in Lake Highlander, Dunedin at that office. Your case sets the fee. Our founders, Dr. Paul and Ginger Rodeghero, set a “Patients First” approach. So we write the plan out line by line before we start. The plan lists what the visit includes. The practice site shows our dental fillings work next to the other care we provide.

Here’s what to ask before you hire.

• Which material fits this tooth after the dentist looks, and why that one.
• Ask if the tooth needs a filling or a larger repair, such as an onlay.
• Cold sensitivity, how it will be handled, and whether Solea laser technology applies.
• What the written plan lists before work starts.

Compare those answers with the written plan. Read about the people who lead the practice if you want that background.

Aftercare for Dental Fillings in Lake Highlander, Dunedin

Chew on the other side until numbness fades, so you don’t bite your cheek. After that, brush gently around the new filling. Our notes on proper brushing and flossing cover the daily routine we ask you to keep. Because a new edge can trap food at first, floss that contact.

You may notice cold sensitivity for a time. How long that lasts depends on the tooth. The dentist will look at your case first if the sensitivity grows or the bite feels high. Dental Fillings in Lake Highlander, Dunedin need the same home care as your other teeth.

Skip very hard food on that tooth for the rest of the day. But if an edge catches the tongue, we smooth it. We want a sooner look if swelling starts or pain keeps you up.

We always recommend you double-check with your provider which option makes sense for you.