Fillings & Sealants
At Townsley Family Dentistry, we offer the latest in fillings and sealants to protect your teeth from decay. Whether you need a simple filling or a preventative sealant, our team of dental experts will provide personalized care to meet your unique needs. Say goodbye to cavities and hello to a brighter, healthier smile with our top-quality fillings and sealants.
Fillings
What is a composite filling?
No one wants to hear from their dentist that they need a filling. You are not alone, most people will need at least one filling in their lifetime. A filling is a treatment for tooth decay that restores it back to normal function. A composite filling is made from a type of material that provides a natural, tooth-colored appearance and is preferred by many to amalgam or gold fillings.
What is it like to get a composite filling?
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The patient is numbed with an anesthetic injection
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The dentist will clean out the decay with a dental drill
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An acidic gel is applied to make the surface rough to bond with the filling.
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A layer of bonding material will be added
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The composite will be applied in layers, a special light will be used to dry each layer, which will take 1 to 2 minutes.
What aftercare is needed for composite fillings?
After receiving a composite filling, your tooth should function normally. However, you should wait until all effects of any anesthesia are gone before eating or drinking, especially anything hot. Brush and floss with care for the first day after the procedure. Any soreness from the numbing injection should be manageable with over-the-counter pain medication.
Sealants
What are dental sealants?
Everyone knows brushing and flossing are important dental hygiene habits for preventing tooth decay. However, there is more that can be done to protect your teeth from cavities through dental sealants. Dental sealants are thin, liquid coatings that are painted on your back teeth. Dental sealants act like a shield against harmful cavity-causing bacteria.
In fact, the Centers for Disease Control says that having dental sealants can decrease tooth decay risk by approximately 80% for 2 years after application and 50% over the next 4 years. Although they can help patients of any age, our dentist highly recommends dental sealants for school-aged children at the time their molars come in.
What is the process of getting dental sealants?
Dental sealants can be applied quickly and painlessly at Townsley Family Dental in Foley, AL.
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The process includes:
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cleaning the teeth
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applying an acidic gel that prepares the surface of the teeth
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the sealants are painted onto the bumps and grooves of the teeth
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the sealants are hardened by a special blue-violet light in a matter of seconds and begin protecting your teeth.
What kind of aftercare is normal after getting dental sealants?
Although there is no real aftercare needed for this procedure, there may be a couple of short-lived effects. Some patients may experience an odd taste in their mouths for just a few minutes after the application. There is no wait to start eating and drinking, and the dentist will check the sealants at every regular appointment going forward to ensure they are effective and in good condition.