Fillings

Removing decay and filling the cavities is the most common dental restoration. A majority of people will require this procedure at some point in their life. At Posh Dental Spa we understand the importance of not only removing harmful bacteria but for Dr. Groberg to then seal the space off to prevent further bacteria from gaining access.

A cavity is a term that is frequently used in dentistry. They occur when bacteria from plaque build up on our teeth comes into contact with food and drinks that we consume. Together, the bacteria will then create an acid, and that acid dissolves the hard enamel layer of our teeth. As the minerals of the enamel break down, a cavity is created. If left untreated, the problem will continue to rage and can leave us in much pain, particularly if the cavity extends deep into the tooth, reaching the inner pulp. What many patients do not understand is that this is a bacterial infection, not a virus, so it can not heal on its own until the source of the infection is removed.

Dr. Groberg will remove the source of the infection and then repair the damage done to the enamel, closing up the tooth, helping to shield your tooth from bacteria entering.To seal the tooth there are three materials available, and we are happy to talk through the pros and cons of each: gold, porcelain or composite.

Gold Fillings

Known as an inlay, gold fillings are fabricated in a dental lab. They would be similar to a piece of a dental crown in concept, not large enough to entirely encase a tooth, but a customized gold piece designed to rest over a tooth. Patients may choose this option because gold has a very similar texture to your natural tooth, which many patients find to be more comfortable, and should last you over twenty years.

Porcelain Fillings

Porcelain fillings are also known as inlays, they are customized to the patient and then fabricated in a dental lab. Patients like the look of this product, as it most resembles their natural teeth in color and translucency. Porcelain is a great material but is subject to breakage when used with abnormal force, such as chewing ice, hard candies or more.

Composite Fillings

Composite fillings are rapidly becoming the filling material of choice by most patients. Composite is made from ceramic nanoparticles blended with resin, giving it a strong hold. It begins as putty like consistency that Dr. Groberg can shape to fit your tooth. Patients love that composite can be shaded to match your teeth. Though composite is not the most durable, it is very durable, much more so than composite blends from years past. Most patients will find that they can continue using their composite filling for at least ten years.

When a cavity is deep

When decay reaches close to the nerve, a protective liner or pulp cap is placed to insulate the nerve and keep it from becoming aggravated. It is a simple step that adds a few minutes to the appointment, and it gives the tooth its best chance of staying healthy and vital rather than needing further treatment later.

We remove deep decay with slow-speed carbide burs. It is the correct way to do it: they take away infected material and cannot cut healthy tooth structure. The bacteria is the enemy here, and the goal is to remove all of it while keeping everything worth keeping.

One honest caveat. Teeth are unpredictable. Even when every effort is made to keep a tooth happy, the nerve can sometimes die anyway and need root canal treatment to save the tooth. That is not a sign anything went wrong — sometimes the decay was simply too aggressive by the time it was caught.

How fillings are priced

A filling is priced by how many surfaces of the tooth it covers. A small cavity on one surface costs less than one that wraps across two or three. Member pricing starts at $165 for a two-surface filling — the published rate on The Posh Plan — and larger fillings are priced accordingly.

Whatever the size, you get the number before we start. If a tooth has lost too much structure for a filling to hold, we will tell you that too, and talk through a crown instead.