When You Need A Dental Filling
Even if you are more than diligent with your oral health care, you may still end up needing a dental filling. Our teeth are protected with a clear, shiny coat of enamel, but even if you brush and floss regularly, sometimes you can still miss the bacterial plaque that leads to tooth decay. Tooth decay will not go away by itself, so if you notice a cavity, you should get it treated as soon as possible or it will continue to develop, cause more pain, and lead to more extensive dental treatments, and more expense. When you or a family member needs a dental filling, give us a call. We offer tooth-colored, composite resin dental fillings that blend with your surrounding dentition.
What Causes Tooth Decay?
Bacteria naturally live in your mouth. In fact, your oral cavity harbors many different strains of bacteria, some of them are helpful, while others are harmful. The harmful oral bacteria feed on the foods and sugars you eat and, as they metabolize them, they produce harmful acids. The bacteria, acids, sugars, and food debris make up a clear, sticky substance called plaque. Plaque continuously forms on your teeth and when it is not brushed away it eats away at your tooth enamel making holes in your teeth called cavities.
How Cavities Are Treated
When you develop a cavity your dentist will clear away the decayed structure of your tooth to save the healthy tooth structure. The hole that is left is disinfected, then filled with a tooth-colored composite resin material that is bonded to the inner walls of your tooth. This special dental material strengthens your tooth while blending with your surrounding teeth so people won't even notice that you have a dental filling.