Dental Filling
Ferndale, WA
Dental Fillings provided by Kelsey Ullsmith, DMD
in Ferndale, WA at Dentistry with Smiles
 When it comes to your oral health, we at Dentistry with Smiles take things seriously! Helping you to maintain your smile in the safest and healthiest way possible is our goal every single day. We try to stress the importance of a rigorous at-home oral hygiene routine but every now and then something slips through the cracks. Even the most intensive brushing and flossing can’t always reach every nook and cranny of your mouth, and that is usually where cavities form. We are highly skilled in detecting and treating cavities even at their most preliminary stages. Let us bring your teeth back to health.
Preventing Cavities is Our Goal
The first step is detecting a cavity. We have a number of cavity detection methods that we use, the most notable of which are X-rays and examinations. Remember, we always advise that you come in to be seen for a regular cleaning and examination at least every six months. We will X-ray your mouth at least once a year. We use these X-rays to see issues that would otherwise be very difficult to detect – one of those issues being the beginning stages of a cavity.
During a professional examination, Dr. Ullsmith will closely examine your teeth for signs of cavities. Both X-rays and exams can help us to alert you to the beginning stages of a cavity so that you can keep it from fully forming with proper brushing and flossing.
The Filling Process
If we find a cavity that must be filled, we will begin the procedure by ensuring your comfort. We will numb your gums with a topical numbing agent before administering the injection of Novocain to ensure you don’t feel a thing. We will wait for the local anesthetic to take full effect before starting the procedure.
Dental fillings are a simple, routine procedure that don’t take too much time and doesn’t pose any risks. All we have to do is remove the decayed portion of the tooth, sterilize the tooth to ensure no microbes or bacteria are hanging around and fill the portion of the tooth that was drilled away.
Filling Materials
When many people think of fillings, they think of the large, silver fillings that are called amalgam fillings. These are still used, although less frequently and typically only to deal with large cavities. The much more popular option today is that of the tooth colored or “composite” filling.
This composite filling is a mixture of plastic, glass and a resin medium that we mix in our office to match the color of your tooth precisely. Once mixed the composite is moldable, much like a piece of clay. We insert the mixture into your tooth, mold it to the proper shape, and set it in place permanently with a special UV light. These filling are strong, and long lasting but the best part is they do nothing to detract from your smile because no one will be able to tell that they are there.
Please call us today at (360) 647-1715 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Kelsey Ullsmith. |
