Catching Cavities Early in Newton Centre
Most cavities don't hurt at first. Many are found at a routine checkup before you notice anything at all. At our Newton office, exams use digital radiography along with iTero and TRIOS 5 intraoral scanners, and you can see the images on screen while Dr. Kaceli explains what she found.
Finding decay early matters because the smaller the cavity, the less tooth has to be removed to fix it. For Dr. Kaceli, keeping your natural tooth structure comes before anything else, and a small filling done on time is one of the simplest ways to do that. Schedule your next dental exam in Newton if it has been a while.
What Are Tooth-Colored Fillings?
Tooth-colored fillings are made from composite resin, a material that can be shaded to blend in with the tooth around it. Dr. Kaceli places it in the prepared tooth, then hardens it with a curing light.
Because composite bonds to the tooth, it works well for small and medium cavities, chipped edges and worn spots. When the damage is too large for a filling to hold up, a dental crown may be the better choice.
Signs You May Need a Filling
- Sensitivity to sweets, cold or hot drinks in one spot
- A sharp edge or small hole your tongue keeps finding
- Food catching between two teeth where it didn't before
- A dark spot or stain on a tooth
- An old filling that has cracked, chipped or fallen out
Some cavities give no signs at all, which is one reason regular checkups help. If a tooth aches when you bite, or the pain wakes you up at night, call us sooner. Those can be signs the decay has reached deeper into the tooth, and Dr. Kaceli will want to take a look.
Getting a Filling, Step by Step
Most fillings are finished in a single visit.
- NumbingDr. Kaceli numbs the tooth and the area around it.
- Removing decayShe removes the decayed part of the tooth and cleans the area.
- Placing the compositeComposite resin in a matching shade is placed in the tooth and hardened with a curing light.
- Shaping and polishingThe filling is shaped to fit your bite and polished smooth.
Replacing Old Silver Fillings
Many patients choose to replace old silver fillings, either because they don't like how they look or because the fillings have started to wear out or crack. Dr. Kaceli will check your existing fillings and tell you whether replacing them makes sense now or can wait. If several need work, she will suggest an order based on which teeth need attention first.
Why Choose Kaceli Dental Studio in Newton?
Fillings don't always fail at a convenient time. If one falls out or a tooth suddenly starts hurting, call our Newton office. We offer same-day emergency visits.
Amy Orsini at the front desk can check your insurance benefits before treatment, and we see patients from Newton Centre, Wellesley, Needham, Brookline and Dedham. New patients can fill out online forms ahead of the first visit.
