Can You Get Fillings With Braces? A Comprehensive Guide

Are you curious if you can get fillings while sporting braces? You’ve landed in the right place! We’re here to clear up any confusion and provide you with the knowledge you need to keep your pearly whites in top-notch condition.

Braces can transform your smile, but they don’t exempt you from other dental concerns like cavities. So, what happens if you need a filling while wearing braces? Is it possible? Keep reading to find out!

Yes, You Can Get Fillings With Braces!

Great news for you! You can indeed get fillings even if you are wearing braces. Though it may be slightly more complicated, it’s totally manageable.

Why Might You Need a Filling?

Let’s take a moment to discuss why you might need a filling. The main culprit is usually dental decay, or cavities. If these pesky little problems aren’t addressed, they can cause serious tooth pain and even lead to tooth loss.

So, How Does It Work?

Your dentist will first work their way around your braces to inspect your teeth. Next, they’ll use special tools to remove the decay and clean the area. Finally, they’ll apply the filling, making sure it doesn’t interfere with your braces.

Remember to prioritize your oral health, whether you have braces or not.

Don’t skip your dental checkup just because you have braces. Your smile will be all the better for it!

What Are Dental Fillings And How Do They Help?

Dental fillings are crucial in treating tooth decay and keeping our teeth healthy. When tooth decay happens, it breaks down the tooth structure, causing cavities.

Fillings are restorative materials used to repair the damage caused by decay. By removing the decayed part of the tooth and filling it, orthodontists can restore the tooth’s function and prevent further decay.

Orthodontic treatment can increase the risk of demineralization, which can lead to cavities.

Getting Fillings with Braces: What to Consider

Having braces can make getting fillings a bit tricky. The brackets and wires can make it harder to assess and treat cavities.

Orthodontists need to work closely with other dental professionals to ensure the best possible outcome for patients needing both braces and fillings. Here are some things they need to consider:

• Braces can block access to the decayed tooth, making it more difficult to prepare the cavity for filling. Additional techniques and tools may be required.
• The brackets and wires can obstruct the orthodontist’s view, which can make it harder to gauge the extent of decay and clean the area properly. Special instruments and techniques may be needed to overcome these challenges.
• Applying the filling to the tooth surface can be more complicated with braces. The adhesive used to bond the filling material needs to be applied carefully. This ensures a secure and long-lasting bond, despite the presence of brackets and wires.

By tackling these challenges head-on, orthodontists can work alongside their peers to provide comprehensive care that promotes oral health and a beautiful smile for patients needing braces and fillings.

Assessing the Need for Fillings: A Team Effort

During regular dental check-ups, the orthodontist teams up with others to evaluate your oral health. X-rays are taken to give a complete picture of your teeth, including areas that might be hard to see with the naked eye.

These X-rays can reveal hidden cavities or signs of tooth decay that might not be obvious during a regular check-up. By spotting cavities or decay early, orthodontists can work together to come up with a treatment plan.

They’ll consider things like the location and severity of the decay, the stage of your orthodontic treatment, and your overall oral health. This team approach ensures the right timing and sequence of treatments for the best possible results.

By recognizing and addressing these challenges, orthodontists and their colleagues can work together to provide comprehensive care that promotes oral health and a beautiful smile for patients needing braces and fillings.

What Kind of Fillings Can You Get With Braces?

There’s a lot to choose from when it comes to dental fillings. Each one has its own pros and cons and they all work well with braces.

• Amalgam Fillings
• Composite Fillings
• Gold Fillings
• Ceramic Fillings
• Glass Ionomer Fillings

The most common type is the composite filling, which is a mix of plastic and glass. These fillings are great with braces because they use a special adhesive to bond to your tooth so they won’t mess with your braces or cause any damage.

Another type of filling that works with braces is the amalgam filling. These are made of a bunch of metals including silver, tin, and copper. Like composite fillings, they use a special adhesive to stick to your tooth so they won’t interfere with your braces. But keep in mind, some people prefer composite fillings because they match the color of your teeth.

Porcelain fillings, also known as inlays or onlays, are another choice for people with braces. These fillings are custom-made in a dental lab and designed to fit perfectly into your tooth. They use a special adhesive to bond to your tooth so they’re also compatible with braces. But, they’re pricier than composite or amalgam fillings and your insurance may not cover them.

Even though you can get fillings with braces, it’s still super important to keep your mouth clean to avoid cavities in the first place. That means brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and seeing your dentist regularly. If you do need a filling while you have braces, your dentist will work with your orthodontist to make sure the filling doesn’t interfere with your braces.

Wrapping Up

So, can you get fillings with braces? Absolutely! Your orthodontist and other oral health professionals will work together to create a plan that takes care of both your braces and fillings. It’s all part of the journey to a healthier, more beautiful smile.

Keep up with regular dental check-ups, stick to a good oral hygiene routine, and maintain open lines of communication with your dental team. Remember, achieving perfect oral health is a group project!

Perry Stevens

Perry heads up a dynamic marketing team that has help the leading orthodontic practices in the USA 10X their business for over a decade. He’s a tea connoisseur, avid reader, traveling and grower of exotic fruits in his permaculture food forest.