New Patients (847) 447-6637

Current Patients (847) 587-5053

1394 South Route 12 Fox Lake, IL 60020

Dental Fillings Fox Lake, IL

Dental Fillings An Overview

Dental fillings are used to restore teeth affected by cavities or decay and protect them against future problems. Infinity Dental of Fox Lake offers a range of dental fillings to meet your needs:

Resin Dental Fillings

Resin dental fillings come in a range of tooth-colored shades, matching the look of your teeth almost perfectly. This procedure is also known as cosmetic bonding because the resin is bonded directly to the tooth. In most cases, composite resin dental fillings can be placed in a single visit.

Benefits of composite dental fillings:

  • Good durability for long lasting results
  • Environmentally friendly and non-toxic
  • Made of bio-compatible materials
  • Bonded directly to the tooth, making them stronger when compared to amalgam
  • Require little to no tooth preparation
  • Virtually indistinguishable from natural tooth structure
  • Available in a rainbow of tooth colored shades

Porcelain Dental Fillings

Porcelain dental fillings, also called inlays or onlays, are used in patients with more advanced tooth decay or damage in larger teeth. These types of fillings add strength to the tooth similar to a dental crown. Porcelain fillings are comfortable and durable and with proper care can be very long-lasting.

Dr. Prendergast places dental fillings for adults and children to restore and stabilize the health of the tooth.

Do you place fillings in baby teeth?
Yes, if a primary tooth has become decayed a dental filling is often placed. Removing infected tooth structure and placing a filling is important for several reasons:

  • Reduces the spread of decay and infection to other parts of the tooth or neighboring tissue which could present a health risk if left untreated.
  • Keeping baby teeth in place supports the growth and development of healthy permanent teeth and your child’s natural speech.

Dental Fillings What to Expect

The procedure for placing a dental filling is typically simple and completed in one brief visit to our dental office in Fox Lake. We will use a topical anesthetic to numb the area. Once you are comfortable, the infected and damaged part of the tooth is removed and cleaned to prepare for the placement of the chosen filling material.

Dr. Prendergast will carefully sculpt the filling material into place in the case of composite resin and permanently seal it using a special blue light. If an inlay or onlay is being placed we will take impressions for the dental lab to use when making your custom ceramic restoration. A temporary restoration will be placed to protect the tooth until the final one is complete. A second visit will be scheduled to place the inlay or onlay and seal the tooth.

What to do if you have a broken filling

If you have a broken dental filling or missing dental filling, it is important to contact our office as quickly as possible. We reserve time throughout the day for our dentists to treat dental emergencies such as lost or broken dental fillings.

Do not attempt to temporarily secure your dental filling with glue or other adhesive. Avoid foods which may become trapped in the tooth hole and continue to brush the tooth carefully to avoid a build-up of plaque, food and other debris.

If you have a broken filling or suspect you may have a cavity, contact Infinity Dental of Fox Lake to schedule an appointment with one of our dentists.