I love that my family dentist is tech-savvy. It's so easy to book a dentist on his smartphone app if I have a tooth problem or if anyone in my family needs emergency problems (I can choose either my normal dentist or another dentist in his practise depending on availability). He also has some great cameras so that we can see exactly what is going on during treatment. I prefer not to see this, but my kids love to be able to see the dentist using his specialised tools to clean and repair their teeth. This blog has some tips on finding a tech-savvy dentist to help give your family the best possible dental care.
When you attend the dentist for your regular check-up, the last news you want is that you have a cavity in one of your teeth and that you therefore need a filling.
But if the tooth in question is causing you no pain, is it really necessary to have it filled, so what are your options when it comes to filling materials? Read on for some helpful information.
Why fillings are necessary
Even though you clean your teeth daily and try to avoid eating very sugary food, cavities may still occur as a result of tooth decay. Tooth decay eats away at the protective enamel coating on the teeth, eventually forming a small hole or cavity.
If your tooth was left without treatment, the decay would spread deeper inside until it reached the pulpy nerve tissue of the tooth's root canal. Once inside the root canal, the decay could set up an infection that would cause you intense pain. The infection would then continue to spread, effectively killing the pulp and causing an abscess, which could leave the dentist no option but to carry out emergency root canal treatment. You might even need to have the tooth taken out altogether.
So, you can see that it's much better to have a small cavity filled, before the problem spreads.
White fillings
White fillings are made from a mixture of glass and dental resin material that is a similar colour to your natural teeth, making them less noticeable than amalgam fillings.
White fillings are light-cured, making them set hard so that you can eat on them immediately. The fillings are also extremely strong and will last for at least five years before requiring replacement. White fillings are bonded to your teeth, increasing the tooth's strength.
Amalgam fillings
Amalgam fillings are made from a mixture of mercury, silver, tin, copper, and zinc. Because amalgam fillings are dark in colour, they are usually reserved for use in the back teeth where they can't easily be seen.
Amalgam fillings are not as strong as white fillings because they are not bonded to the teeth. However, they are much cheaper and last twice as long.
In conclusion
If your dentist recommends a filling to treat a cavity in one of your teeth, it really is an essential treatment if you want to save your tooth. Have a chat with your dentist for more information about the types of fillings available and other options for tooth repair, such as crowns, veneers or implants.
Share