Have you recently been experiencing tooth sensitivity while trying to eat or drink? Do you have a toothache that won’t seem to go away? Can you see a hole in your tooth? You may be suffering from tooth decay and forming a cavity! Our dental office in Park Ridge offers dental fillings for our patients suffering from tooth decay, cavity formation, or even traumatic damage. Fillings will improve the health, function, and appearance of your affected tooth, and they can control pain related to tooth decay. We offer multiple filling options to help you treat your cavities in a way that best matches your personal goals.

We would be more than happy to evaluate your tooth to determine the best treatment option for you and your smile.

What Are Dental Cavities?

In the simplest terms, dental cavities are holes in your teeth.

How do these holes develop in your teeth? In the past, people believed in tooth borers that would tunnel into teeth the way that insects tunneled into trees and plant stems. However, now we know that tooth decay is caused by oral bacteria. These bacteria consume foods in your mouth and excrete acids. These acids attack the tooth enamel, which is very strong, but is chemically vulnerable. At first, acidic attack removes minerals from enamel, weakening it. Then it removes the enamel itself, creating holes, described as caries by dentists but commonly called cavities.

Why It’s Important to Treat Cavities

Once cavities start to develop, it’s important to treat them quickly. An open cavity can expand rapidly. As a hole in your tooth, cavities can trap food, giving oral bacteria a supply to eat long after you’ve finished eating. The cavity also gives oral bacteria shelter from your saliva, and may even protect them from brushing. Plus, the cavity creates a small environment where acidic excretions concentrate, making them more dangerous to your tooth enamel.

As a cavity grows, it will pierce the tooth enamel, which can lead to tooth sensitivity. If the cavity reaches the interior of the tooth, it can infect the living chamber inside it. This can cause extreme pain and can only be treated with root canal therapy.

Cavities can get too large for treatment with fillings, and sometimes tooth decay can lead to tooth loss.

A filling stops the process of decay, returns your teeth to full function, and can stop discomfort related to decay.

Types of Fillings We Offer

At Complete Health Dentistry of Park Ridge, we’re dedicated to helping everyone live their best life with optimal oral health. We offer multiple filling options so that you can choose the one that works best for your lifestyle and goals.

The fillings we offer include:

  •  Ceramic inlays and onlays
  • Metal amalgam
  • Composite
  • Metal amalgam
  • Composite
  • Ceramic inlays and onlays

During your consultation, we will discuss these options in detail and help you decide which is best for you, but below are some general descriptions of the benefits and limitations of each type.

Metal Amalgam

Metal amalgam fillings are the traditional silver fillings. Although they do generally have silver, the metal they contain most of is mercury. Because mercury is toxic, this type of filling isn’t recommended for everyone.

However, in appropriate situations, metal amalgam fillings are strong, durable, and inexpensive.

Composite Fillings

We are proud to offer tooth-colored composite dental fillings in Park Ridge for our patients. Composite fillings are mostly made of resin (plastic) with ceramic particles for added strength.

Composite fillings are attractive, but they’re not as strong as amalgam fillings, so they’re best for small cavities. However, when used appropriately–especially in small cavities–composite fillings can last as long as amalgam fillings. For larger fillings, though, we recommend inlays and onlays.

Ceramic Inlays and Onlays

Inlays and onlays are fillings made of advanced ceramics, such as porcelain, resin composite, or gold. These materials can be even stronger than your natural tooth material, making them suitable for even the largest cavities. Porcelain is often preferred because it is durable and can be matched to the natural color of the tooth, offering both functionality and aesthetic appeal. Inlays and onlays are custom-made in a dental lab and then bonded to the tooth, making them ideal for cavities that are too large for fillings but not damaged enough to require a crown.

  • Inlays: These are used for cavities that are confined to the area within the cusps (the chewing surface) of the tooth.
  • Onlays: These are larger restorations that cover one or more cusps and may extend over the edges of the tooth.

Inlays and onlays are known for their strength and longevity, making them a good choice for areas that endure heavy chewing forces, like the back teeth. They last as long as amalgam fillings, but they require a two-step process and are more expensive.

Getting Dental Fillings

When it comes to receiving a dental filling, the process is quite simple for amalgam and composite fillings:

  • Dr. Kuchta will clean and prepare the tooth, removing minor parts of enamel for filling placement.
  • Dr. Kuchta will press the shapeable material into the cavity.
  • Composite fillings need to be hardened. This is done with a curing light which your dentist will shine on the filling. For larger fillings, we might apply some filling, harden it, then apply another layer.

The process for inlays and onlays is a little different.

  • Dr. Kuchta will clean and prepare the tooth, removing damaged parts of the tooth and old fillings if necessary.
  • We will take digital impressions of your teeth with our TRIOS scanner.
  • Dr. Kuchta may design your restorations or simply send the impressions to the lab where they design your restorations.
  • You will wear a temporary restoration until your final restorations are ready.
  • When we get your fillings, Dr. Kuchta will test their fit before bonding them to your teeth.

This process is more complicated, but in many situations, it’s worth it for the longer-lasting and more attractive restorations.

Dental Bonding vs. Fillings: What’s the Difference?

Dental bonding and fillings are both common solutions for repairing tooth damage, but there are key differences between the two. While both can address cavities and imperfections, dental bonding is often used for minor repairs like filling small chips, cracks, or gaps between teeth. The process for bonding is similar to that of fillings, using composite resin that is applied directly to the tooth. However, bonding is typically faster and requires less tooth preparation than a filling, making it an ideal option for more cosmetic treatments or smaller areas of decay. Fillings, on the other hand, are more suitable for larger cavities or areas of decay that require additional strength and durability.

When to Choose a Dental Crown Over a Filling

A dental crown is usually needed instead of a filling when a tooth is extensively damaged or decayed and cannot be repaired with just a filling. Here are some common scenarios where a crown is typically recommended over a filling:

  • Large Decay or Damage: If a large portion of the tooth is decayed or fractured, a filling may not be sufficient to restore the tooth. A crown helps cover the entire tooth, providing support and structure.
  • Weakened Teeth: Teeth that have undergone root canal therapy or are severely cracked may need a crown to restore strength and prevent further breakage.
  • Aesthetic Concerns: Crowns can be used to improve the appearance of discolored or misshapen teeth. In these cases, a filling might not provide the necessary aesthetic results.
  • Multiple Fillings: If a tooth already has multiple fillings or large fillings, it may be too weakened to support additional fillings, and a crown can provide better protection.
  • Protection After Root Canal Treatment: Teeth that have had root canal therapy become more fragile, and a crown is often placed to protect the tooth and restore its function.

Crowns are typically more durable and provide greater protection, but they require more removal of tooth structure than fillings.

Get Park Ridge Dental Fillings Today

Think you or a loved one may need dental fillings? We offer many options so you can get the type of fillings that will meet your goals and help you live your best life.

To talk to Dr. Kuchta about your filling options call (847) 696-3240 to book an appointment with Complete Health Dentistry of Park Ridge today.