Fillings are substances commonly used in dentistry to treat cavities. A cavity forms when bacterial plaque hardens on the enamel, weakening it and causing it to erode. The first sign of a cavity is usually a toothache or sensitivity, which may or may not be accompanied by a hole in the tooth. Houston fillings can prevent a cavity from getting bigger.
Fillings can be made of several different materials, depending on the circumstances of your particular cavity. Most fillings combine two or more materials but can also be made of porcelain or gold alloys. Porcelain is stronger than most other types of fillings, but gold alloys are generally more durable in the long term.
Here is how fillings help.
What are the uses of fillings?
Help control tooth decay.
Filling materials are used to restore decayed teeth or permanently close spaces between teeth to prevent dental caries (tooth decay). Fillings used in dentistry include amalgam, gold, silver, composite resin, porcelain, and glass ionomer cement. Amalgam fillings are the most commonly used.
Eliminate pain.
Cavities are not just aesthetically unpleasant. They can be downright painful. If you get a cavity in one of your back molars, you can feel it when you bite down on something hard, like an apple or a piece of bread. That is because the nerve inside your tooth has been exposed, and it is now exposed to all of that delicious goodness that leads to tooth decay, including sugar and carbohydrates.
When a cavity forms and goes untreated, the bacteria from inside your mouth will travel through that hole in your tooth and create inflammation around the pulp. However, fillings prevent cavities, thereby eliminating pain.
Increase the lifespan of damaged teeth.
Fillings can increase the lifespan of a damaged tooth when compared with other options for treating damaged teeth. A filling usually lasts at least ten years before needing replacement, whereas other options, like bridges, may need replacement after just five years.
Help improve appearance.
When weak or decayed teeth are treated with fillings, the fillings can improve appearance by restoring the appearance and function of the damaged teeth. The filling material is molded to match the tooth’s shape to help prevent food from accumulating under it and causing irritation or pain. A filling also seals off a sensitive tooth nerve ending, allowing patients to stop using a tooth sensitivity toothpaste and helping prevent pain caused by hot or cold temperatures.
Safe with minimal discomfort.
Fillings can restore teeth with minimal to no discomfort and usually last a long time. Fillings benefit patients by restoring their smiles, boosting their appearance, and helping them eat more comfortably.
Besides, fillings are generally easy to apply, especially if there is little to no decay present. The dentist will take an x-ray of the filled tooth to ensure it has been adequately repaired before you leave the office. If you visit your dentist regularly, small fillings should pose little risk of further decay or damage.
A filling is a material injected or placed into a cavity in the body, a medical term for a hollow bodily space that naturally contains soft tissues, such as pulp and gum. Fillings are used to restore and replace teeth lost due to cavities, erosion, and other reasons. In dentistry, fillings are also called restorations. They are typically made of materials that include porcelain, gold, amalgam (a mixture of mercury and silver), and composite resin. If you want to know more about fillings, contact Jeffrey Busch, DDS.