Performing Tooth Fillings For Patients

West Morris Dental, PC proudly offers tooth fillings for residents of Hackettstown, New Jersey, and surrounding areas. We know that the thought of having to get a filling can be stressful for many patients. But as one of the top dental offices serving Warren County, we’ll go above and beyond to ensure that you’re as calm and comfortable as possible throughout the entire process. We believe in having a gentle touch to help ensure you have a great dental experience, and we’ll even offer you complimentary nitrous oxide to help you relax before and during your visit, if needed.

What Does A Dental Filling Involve?

When tooth decay causes a small hole (cavity) to form in a tooth, a dentist will remove the decayed portion of the tooth and then fill in the leftover space. There are various types of filling materials used today, including silver-colored (amalgam) fillings and tooth-colored (composite) fillings. Many patients opt for white tooth fillings because they blend into the surrounding teeth and thus look much more natural.

Find Out Whether You Need A Cavity Filling

If you think that you might have a cavity—perhaps you’ve been experiencing pain or sensitivity, or you’ve noticed staining or a visible hole—it’s important to reach out to a dentist as soon as possible, especially if it’s been a while since your last routine cleaning. Cavities will not heal on their own, and in fact will get progressively worse the longer they’re left untreated, possibly leading to an infection requiring a root canal or even an extraction.

The Root Canal Dentists 

If you think you might need to have a root canal—perhaps you’re experiencing pain or sensitivity, or you’ve noticed that a tooth is discolored, chipped, or cracked—you can turn to the experienced root canal dentists at West Morris Dental, PC. Based in Hackettstown, New Jersey, we proudly serve patients from across Warren County and surrounding areas.

When most people hear that they’ll need a root canal, they automatically think that they’ll be sitting through a painful procedure. But root canal treatment does not cause pain—instead, it relieves a patient’s toothache and treats their infection. You can rest easy knowing that today’s endodontic treatment uses state-of-the-art technology and that our root canal specialists will likely be able to perform your root canal within just one visit.

What To Expect During A Root Canal

A root canal is used to treat an infected tooth. When a cavity is left untreated or a tooth cracks, it can allow bacteria to enter the tooth’s pulp and develop into an infection. To treat this infection, a root canal dentist will:

• Remove the inflamed pulp
• Clean and disinfect the interior of the tooth
• Apply a filling to seal the tooth

It’s normal for the tooth to feel tender for a few days afterward. During the healing time, biting and chewing on the other side of the mouth is helpful. The root canal dentist will decide on a case-by-case basis whether an antibiotic is necessary.

If the tooth in question is severely damaged, a dentist may instead recommend a complete extraction. However, root canals are generally the preferred choice because they preserve the patient’s natural tooth.

Why You Shouldn’t Wait To Get A Root Canal

If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, it’s important to promptly consult with a root canal specialist, especially if it’s been a while since your last routine cleaning. If left untreated, a tooth infection will worsen and spread, in some cases leading to serious complications. What’s more, addressing the infection sooner than later will provide the relief you need as quickly as possible.

Dental Bridges & Crowns 

A complete spectrum of smile solutions is available at West Morris Dental, PC in Hackettstown, New Jersey, including custom dental bridges and crowns. Let’s take a closer look at these two restorative treatments and how they can help patients throughout Warren County achieve their very best smile and oral health.

Dental Bridges Vs. Crowns

Every tooth is essential; each works to help you chew and keep other teeth aligned. Failing to replace missing teeth in a timely manner can result in all sorts of problems, from shifting teeth and chewing difficulties to bone loss and changes in facial contours. That’s where dental bridges come in!

A dental bridge is a permanent replacement for a missing tooth that “bridges” the gap in your smile. Typically crafted from porcelain, a bridge is made to look like a real tooth and is secured in place by abutment teeth on either side of the gap. Because a dental bridge impacts the surrounding teeth, having two healthy adjacent teeth is essential. Once a bridge is placed, no one will be able to tell that you had a tooth missing and normal chewing function will be restored. A bridge must be maintained by flossing and following our recommended cleaning schedule so tooth decay doesn’t damage the gums and surrounding abutment teeth. In most cases, a dental bridge requires a minimum of three appointments to design and fit. 

Dental crowns are another popular cosmetic solution. Unlike dental bridges that address missing teeth, a crown (or “cap”) is used to cover a damaged tooth and improve its shape, alignment, and appearance. We may recommend a crown for a few reasons:

• To address a significantly decayed tooth that requires more than a traditional filling
• To cover and preserve the stability of a fractured tooth
• To bolster an infected tooth that has had its pulp removed (a procedure known as a root canal)

Dental crowns can be made of porcelain or ceramic to match the natural appearance of your teeth. A crown is typically done in two visits, but another visit or two is often necessary to ensure the crown fits precisely.

Performing Tooth Extractions

Do you need to have a tooth pulled? Maybe you have a wisdom tooth that’s impacted or growing in at an angle. Perhaps one of your teeth is infected, and the abscess is causing pain and a host of other unpleasant symptoms. Or maybe a cavity has led to significant tooth decay.

Whatever the case may be, you can count on the professionals at West Morris Dental, PC to skillfully perform your tooth extraction. Based in Hackettstown, New Jersey, we proudly provide a wide range of general and cosmetic dentistry services to residents of Warren County and the surrounding area, and we’re highly experienced with sedation dentistry.

What To Expect During A Tooth Extraction

The tooth extraction process will vary depending on the condition of the tooth being removed. If the tooth is visible and in one piece, the procedure will be relatively simple—the dentist will administer a local anesthetic to numb the surrounding area, loosen the tooth, and then remove it.

However, if the tooth to be removed is broken or impacted, the extraction process will be a bit more complicated. For example, in some cases, the dentist may need to divide the tooth into smaller pieces and/or remove a portion of the bone surrounding the tooth. Your dentist can explain which approach is best suited to your specific circumstances.