How to Care for Temporary Filling If You Have Them on a Tooth?

There are many reasons why the dentist in Langley, uses temporary dental fillings. For example, you may require a temporary filling if you need indirect restorations on your teeth prepared by dental laboratories instead of creation in the dental office.

When dentists fill cavities on teeth, they generally create the filling material in the dental office to complete the treatment within 30 minutes. For example, when getting a front tooth filling, the dentist removes the existing decay or damage to the tooth before applying a composite resin material to it for fixing. The material hardens instantly and receives the dentist’s help using ultraviolet light.

Unfortunately, if you have a tooth destroyed due to extensive decay or damage and need indirect fillings like Onlays created in dental laboratories, you must endure temporary fillings in the tooth after preparing it for restoration.

What Precisely Are Temporary Fillings?

Temporary fillings are nonpermanent structures helpful to restore a damaged tooth from injuries or decay. Temporary fillers do not have a durable lifespan and are not created to last. If you wonder how long the temporary filler will last, it helps if you understand that these restorations are designed to stay in place for several weeks or more until you can see the Langley dentist again to replace it with a permanent restoration.

Materials such as tooth-coloured composite resin, porcelain, zinc phosphate cement, and glass ionomers help make dental fillers. However, temporary fillers are softer and made from zinc phosphate cement or glass ionomers.

In What Situations Are Temporary Fillers Helpful?

You might receive a temporary filler in your tooth if you need emergency cavity treatment causing sharp pain and your dentist doesn’t have the time to complete the procedure in one appointment. If you are getting dental crowns to cover a damaged tooth, the dentist provides a temporary crown as a filling over the tooth until the dental laboratory customizes your permanent crown.

If you undergo a root canal to eliminate dental pulp infections, you require a temporary filling to seal the access hole the dentist creates to access the dental pulp. Temporary fillings also help cover sensitive nerves as a medicated filler to soothe your nerves and mouth along your teeth to heal before receiving a permanent filling.

Foods to Have with Temporary Fillings

Before receiving temporary fillings in your tooth, you receive anesthesia from a Langley sedation dentist to prevent discomfort as the dentist drills your tooth to remove decay or tooth structure. After placing temporary fillings, the dentist instructs you not to eat until the effects of the anesthesia have worn off. Some fillings require you to wait 24 hours before eating on the side of the mouth of the affected tooth to ensure the filling remains in place.

Temporary fillings can cause eating sensitivity and fall off if not cared for appropriately. Therefore you must eat suitable foods for the filling when caring for them. The Langley dentist suggests you avoid chewing foods near the affected tooth holding the temporary filling. They guide you to avoid hard foods like candy, ice, and nuts besides sticky foods, including chewing gum, peanut butter, and toffee. You must also develop the practice of eating slowly to avoid biting the tooth with the temporary filling.

You must remain cautious with your oral hygiene routine with temporary fillings in your tooth. You can continue brushing and flossing the affected tooth, but you find it beneficial to use a soft-bristled toothbrush and brush gently but thoroughly. Flossing around the affected tooth might be challenging, especially if the temporary filler reaches the edges. Therefore, you must remain careful when flossing ensuring that you don’t pull the floss when removing it from between your teeth. Instead, you must use the sides to slide the floss out to ensure it doesn’t dislodge the temporary filling.

Unfortunately, if you manage to damage the temporary filler, you must contact your dentist immediately. The professional can help you fix or replace the temporary filling. Therefore, you must immediately communicate with your dentist to prevent complications.

Temporary fillings are interim restorations on your tooth until you can get the permanent filler. If you think you need indirect restorations on your teeth and expect to receive temporary fillings, the lead in this paper can help you care for them without enduring complications.

NovaCare Dental suggests temporary fillings for many patients needing root canals or indirect restorations on their teeth. They also provide education on caring for them until you can get your permanent filler. If you need indirect restorations to fix your tooth, kindly contact this practice to restore your tooth.