dental fillings Archives | Sterling Heights Dentist, Dr. Farhat of Dental 1 Care

Signs You Need a Dental Filling

January 14, 2020 by dental1admin Leave a Comment

Dental fillings have been used for centuries and these simple restorations have saved lots of teeth. You, too, can benefit from dental fillings if they are provided before it is too late to save your tooth. Read on and learn about dental fillings from our team of professionals at Dental One Care in Sterling Heights, MI.

Dental Fillings Defined

Simply put, a dental filling is a material that is used to plug a hole in your tooth. This puts a halt to the progression of a cavity that could degenerate into tooth decay and additional problems down the road. A dental filling promotes dental health by keeping a tooth functional and healthy.

Dentists in Sterling Heights, MI explain that the dental fillings used today are made from a variety of materials, such as silver amalgams, porcelain ceramic and composites (glass and resin, for example). They can also be made to match the color of your teeth. This way an observer cannot tell that you have these restorations on your teeth.

Signs You Need a Filling

The only way to know for certain that you need a dental filling is by visiting Dental One Care if you live in Sterling Heights. An assessment by a professional will reveal which teeth have cavities needing immediate attention.

However, there are some signs and symptoms that can also alert you to the possibility that you may have cavities needing to be checked out. These include;

Pain (severe, mild, sharp, throbbing or any other variant of tooth pain)
Sensitivity in one or more teeth when they are being used to eat, drink or speak.
A visible mark or hole in your tooth.
When dental floss keeps fraying while you clean between a given set of teeth.
A feeling of roughness or jaggedness each time you run your tongue over a given tooth.

Orthodontists in Sterling Heights MI warn that by the time you experience the signs above, a cavity may have progressed to a level where the deeper structures of your tooth are affected. Most cavities don’t cause any pain. This painless stage is the best time to catch them and get a filling. Therefore, you should visit Dental One Care once every six months so that your teeth can be checked and cleaned by a professional. Any cavities discovered during these routine visits will be addressed long before they become bigger problems.

Possible Complications When Cavities Are Ignored for Long

If you leave your cavities unresolved for long, you risk the following;

Tooth decay can result when a cavity is allowed to get deeper. Tooth decay can cost you your tooth, among other problems.
Your tooth pain could worsen as the cavity deepens. This worsening pain can make it hard for you to eat, speak or function normally.
If cavities aren’t treated with a filling in time, dental infections, like periodontal disease, can result since the holes in your tooth harbor bacteria. This allows the bacteria to attack the more delicate parts of your tooth, such as the dentin and pulp.
You could also lose the tooth once decay sets in and invasive procedures like root canals aren’t capable of saving the affected tooth.

Common Questions About Dental Fillings

The experts at Dental One Care are frequently asked a number of questions about dental fillings. Those questions include;

Does the Procedure Hurt? Dentists assure you that getting a dental filling isn’t painful because your dentist will first administer a local anesthetic before starting the treatment. In contrast, the pain that you are likely to experience if you don’t get a filling when you should is likely to be much worse than any discomfort you feel while getting a filling.

How Long Does the Procedure Take? It typically takes the professionals at Dental One Care 30-60 minutes to place a dental filling. However, this time could increase if the cavity is large or multiple teeth need fillings. If you are concerned about the duration of the procedure, talk to the dentist and get clarification about how long you should expect the dental filling procedure to last.

Are Dental Fillings Expensive? Fillings are generally affordable. If you have dental insurance, your insurer could even cover the entire cost or most of it. If you don’t have insurance, talk to our staff.

Do Teeth Feel Different After the Procedure? Your teeth may feel somewhat different right after you receive the dental filling, but this typically subsides within a day or two. Your teeth should feel normal soon after the procedure.

If you still have questions about dental fillings or if you have pain in a particular tooth, contact us to schedule an appointment. We will address your queries and fix whatever problem is found to be responsible for the discomfort or pain that you are feeling in your tooth.

8 Signs You Need Emergency Dental Care

June 21, 2019 by sterlingheightsdentalcare Leave a Comment

Some dental pains and aches can be treated using home remedies or OTC drugs, but others point to a bigger problem and even call for urgent professional attention. The question is, how do you know if you need to see a dentist immediately in order to get treatment for your pain or aches or use home remedies? Dentists at Dental One Care in Sterling Heights share the following signs which should prompt you to see Dr. Fardi Farhat immediately.

Sign #1: Your Tooth is Loose

Adults should never have loose teeth, so emergency dental care is in order once you notice that one or more of your teeth is/are loose. Your local dentist in Sterling Heights explains that teeth can become loose for a variety of reasons, such as advanced periodontal disease or impact trauma to the teeth and gums. Prompt treatment for the loose tooth, in this case, will save that tooth from deteriorating and falling out.

Sign #2: Severe Toothache

Minor toothaches can be managed at home, but a severe toothache requires immediate dental care. The severe toothache could be an indicator that the tooth root is infected, or other factors have triggered that severe toothache. The only way to be certain that the exact root cause of the pain has been identified and treated is by visiting Dental One Care for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Sign #3: Aching and Bleeding Gums

Some bleeding is normal when you brush and floss, especially if you are flossing for the first time. However, you should be concerned if the bleeding is chronic and excessive. Aching gums are also a red flag you should not ignore. The expert hands and eye of Dr. Fardi Farhat are required to find out what exactly is causing the aches and bleeding. Gum disease is often the culprit, and it is important to treat it promptly so that it doesn’t cause irreversible damage to your dental health.

Sign #4: Your Jaw is Swollen

When your jaw swells, rush for emergency dental care at Dental One Care. The swelling points to a serious infection, most likely an infection of your salivary gland. The salivary gland is very important because the saliva it secretes helps to clean your mouth and prevent the proliferation of oral bacteria. Saliva also facilitates the digestion process because it contains enzymes that kick-start the process of breaking down the food you eat. The dentist in Sterling Heights will examine you and identify the exact infection you have so that the right treatment is administered.

Sign #5: Dental Abscesses

We asked our friend, Dr. Taher Dhoon, a dentist in Greeley, CO, about dental emergencies. Dr. Dhoon says dental abscesses are one of the most common dental problems patients have. An abscessed tooth presents with a lot of pain, fever, pus, a foul taste in your mouth and swollen glands. These signs suggest that the root of your tooth may have become infected due to trauma, advanced gum disease or an untreated cavity. See a dentist in Sterling Heights immediately so that a surgical procedure to drain the abscess can be done.

Sign #6: A Numb Tooth

Teeth are full of living tissues, so they should never be numb. When your tooth becomes numb, one of several things could have happened. For example, an infection could have spread to the root of that tooth and compromised the functioning of the nerves in there. The loss of sensation is a reminder that you need to see Dr. Fardi Farhat immediately so that a root canal or any other treatment can be performed. Otherwise, you may lose that tooth and others as the infection spreads.

Sign #7: A Metallic Taste in the Mouth

When dental fillings are damaged, they tend to leave a metallic taste in the mouth. Rush to Dental One Care as soon as you get this metallic taste because your filling is most likely leaking. The old filling will be replaced and the root of your tooth will be saved from infections that can necessitate root canal therapy.

Sign #8: Constant Headaches

The body is a complex system of interconnected parts. A problem that affects one part can therefore easily affect or manifest in other parts. For example, people who grind their teeth can wake up with a headache because the abnormal amounts of energy used to grind the teeth strains the jaw muscles and the surrounding areas. See a dental expert at Dental One Care in Sterling Heights so that a comprehensive exam can be done to establish what is causing your chronic headaches. Remember, headaches are signs that something is wrong, so you shouldn’t try to treat the headache on its own without finding out what is triggering it.

It is wise to have the contact information of Dental One Care with you at all times so that you can contact Dr. Fardi Farhat and the entire team when the need arises. Don’t brush off some dental issues as minor, give us a call and we will advise you on what to do to resolve the problem. If the situation calls for emergency dental care, we will do what is required to protect your dental health.

When Can I Eat After a Tooth Filling?

September 4, 2018 by sterlingheightsdentalcare Leave a Comment

When Can I Eat After a Tooth Filling?

Tooth fillings are generally not welcomed with open arms by patients once their dentist makes such a recommendation.

Aside from the seemingly primal fear of the sound of the dental drill, the pain expected once the anesthesia wears off makes people wonder if they can eat at all after the filling session is done.

So if you’re wont to ask: “When can I eat after a filling?” Dr. Farhat, a trusted orthodontist in Sterling Heights, MI, has the following answer and tips to ensure minimal discomfort after getting a filling:

Tooth Filling Tips

The anesthetic administered prior to the filling procedure normally wears off after about one to three hours. Once this happens, you may start eating soft foods such as soup or porridge (nothing too sticky, though).
After the filling work is done, some discomfort, tooth sensitivity, and soreness may be experienced for a couple of hours, days or even weeks.
What you can eat after getting your teeth filled is dependent on the material used. Silver may require you to avoid hard foods and no direct chewing for up to 24 hours. Teeth with composite (white) fillings which harden right away can be used for chewing as soon as the anesthesia wears off. Softer filling material like amalgam may require you to wait longer before you can bite or chew on solid foods.
Take note of whether or not you feel the recently filled teeth hitting first when you bite, as this should not be the case. A quick visit to your dentist would be necessary.
Be sure to bite and chew gently, and try to avoid using the filled teeth for these right away.
Since cold air can trigger tooth sensitivity in some people, always make it a point to chew with your mouth closed to prevent tooth pain.
Our friend Dr. Ben Kacos, says to avoid getting any of your fillings dislodged because of food, try not to eat sticky food at first, and wait for the filling to completely set.
Extreme heat and cold can trigger tooth sensitivity, so choose to consume moderately warm or cool food items and beverages.
Lay off the sweets! Consuming sugary drinks and foods can lead to bacterial growth in the areas around the new filling.
Keep away from tough, hard food items like hard candies, nuts, and ice. Aside from possibly causing pain and discomfort, biting hard can dislodge any unset fillings.

With the above expert advice, you should know by now that getting tooth fillings do not equate to starving afterward. Additionally, pain management is quite possible if you follow your dentist’s instructions. So, happy filling!

Dental Filling Aftercare | What Should You Expect?

August 11, 2016 by Lauren Edvalson Leave a Comment

Dental Filling Aftercare: Tips and Reminders

After getting a dental filling, it is essential to follow the prescribed aftercare in order to ensure that you prevent damage to your teeth and the fillings. Here are some dental filling aftercare tips that you will need to follow closely.

While the anesthetic is wearing off

The anesthetic used by your dentist can wear off after two to four hours, although there are some anesthetics which can last up to seven hours. While the anesthetic is still in effect, the area where it has been applied will remain numb.

While your mouth is still numb, it is best to avoid foods and beverages that are too hot. Because your mouth is still numb, it can be difficult to assess the temperature of food and drinks and there is a risk that you can burn your mouth. You may also have some difficulty in controlling the food and beverages you consume while the anesthetic is still in effect.

You should also avoid eating while the anesthetic is still in effect because you might not feel it if you bite on your lip, tongue or cheek. If it is your child who got the dental fillings, pay close attention to him as kids find the numbing effect amazing and may do something that can hurt them while the anesthetic is still in effect.

Eating | Can I Eat After a Filling?

If you have had a composite or glass ionomer filling, you can eat after the filling has been set by the blue light at the dentist’s office. However, it is highly recommended that you go on a soft diet until the filling sets completely (24 hours will suffice).

After getting a filling, you should avoid biting on hard food and objects because fillings are not as strong as normal teeth. This means that you should cut hard food into smaller pieces or chew on the other side of your mouth.

The same foods and beverages that cause your natural teeth to get discolored can also stain your fillings.

Sensitivity and pain

Sensitivity is fairly common with dental filling aftercare. It may be triggered by hot, cold or sweet foods, pressure, and even air.

Over time, this sensitivity will decrease until it is eventually gone. This usually takes a few weeks. During this period, you should avoid food and drinks that are too hot or too cold. You can also use a toothpaste made for sensitive teeth.

However, if the sensitivity worsens, you should return to your dentist as soon as possible. In some instances, the pain may be caused by the bonding technique used or by a deep filling. Your dentist may redo the filling or put a sedative dressing on the tooth before examining the tooth again.

A day or two after the anesthetic wears off, you may feel some soreness on the area that has been treated, especially if a matrix band was used. Some patients may feel pain while biting because the filling was set too high. This is a result of the additional pressure from the filling which affects the tooth’s ligaments. Normally, the pain wears off after a few days.

If you have trouble or feel pain when biting down on your tooth that has been treated, you should go to your dentist. He or she will reshape the filling. Electrical or galvanic shocks are fairly common for patients who have amalgam fillings. This is the result of the electrical current generated in the mouth.

If you need more information about dental care in Sterling Heights. contact the professionals at Dental 1 Care today!

The 9 Things That You Need to Know About Dental Fillings

April 21, 2016 by Lauren Edvalson Leave a Comment

9 Things You Need to Know About Dental Fillings

You probably already know that dental fillings will be applied to your teeth if you’re not compliant with proper oral care requirements. If you’re not good to your teeth, you surely can expect to see cavities in your future. There’s no reversing the effects of this kind of dental damage; the only thing that you can really do is to prevent it from getting worse. And to do this, dental fillings will have to be applied to your damaged teeth.

There really is nothing too complicated about dental fillings. However, if you wish to know more about what they’re made of, their benefits, and their impact on your dental health, listed belong are nine important things to know about them.

There are five common kinds of dental fillings

Gold, porcelain, silver amalgam (which is made of mercury mixed with silver, tin, zinc, and copper), composite resin, and tooth-colored plastic. Gold and silver are very durable. Meanwhile, the tooth-colored options can restore the natural and original appearance of the damaged teeth, making them the ideal options for teeth that can easily be seen.

Most dental patients these days opt against silver amalgam because of its mercury content.

Mercury is a neurotoxin and exposure to it can lead to serious health risks. However, there’s just a very small amount of mercury from silver amalgam, so the health risks attached to mercury cannot be expected to manifest because you’ve decided to use silver amalgam as a dental filling.

Pregant women should consider different fillings.

Despite the safe amount of mercury in silver amalgams, pregnant women are advised to opt for a different kind of dental filling instead.

Allergic reactions to dental fillings.

Some people have allergies to dental fillings because of the metals used. Allergic reactions usually come in the form of skin rashes and itching. If you have an allergic reaction to your filling, better have it replaced by something else ASAP.

How dental fillings protect you.

Dental fillings protect the sensitive nerves of damaged teeth, but you can expect some sensitivity after the placement of a filling.

Minimizing Constant Sensitivity.

If there’s constant sensitivity despite the dental filling, you can use desensitizing toothpaste to alleviate the discomfort.

Dental Filling Aftercare.

After the application of dental filling, it’s important to just let it cure even more. So don’t eat for an hour or two after the treatment. If you are still having doubts on when you can resume eating contact Dental1Care and let a dental professional give you the necessary information.

Silver amalgam filling aftercare.

If you opted for silver amalgam dental filling, avoid chewing or biting on the treated tooth for 24 hours.

Dental filling aftercare for children.

Children who receive dental fillings will have numb lips and tongues due to the treatment. It’s important to tell them not to bite on their numb lips and tongue because they won’t be able to tell if they’re already biting too hard and injuring their lips or tongue.

If you have additional questions about fillings contact a dental professional at Dental1Care. The knowledgeable dentists can help ease any anxiety you may feel about getting your cavities filled.