How Dental Fillings Can Improve Your Oral Health

Every day someone comes into the office at B&G Family Dentistry needing dental fillings. But what exactly are they? The short answer is fillings provide relief from cavities and allow patients to go forward with strong, healthy teeth.

However, there’s much more to dental fillings than just being a simple solution for a cavity problem. Many folks are curious about how fillings are done, what causes cavities, and the different types of dental fillings.

How Cavities Develop

You’ve heard all your life that eating sugary candy will cause cavities and maybe thought that was just the dentist or your parents trying to scare you. Unfortunately, it’s the truth. The sugar found in candy has a degrading effect on tooth enamel. It’s essentially an acidic mixture. Unless you are meticulous about brushing and flossing after eating candy or drinking sugary drinks like soda, then cavities are a real problem.

The chemical reaction that takes place causes the sugary particulates to essentially create pits in teeth. Over time, these pits expand, and that’s how cavities come to be.

Natural Looking Fillings

If you’ve ever seen someone smile and their mouth looks metallic, well, that’s dental fillings. In previous years, fillings were made from a metallic alloy. This alloy filled the cavity and lasted a long time. However, in recent years the composite filling has become the standard. These fillings are white and are designed to look just like your natural teeth.

Composite fillings give you the dental treatment you need while keeping your teeth looking natural.

The Treatment Process

Fillings are among the most common dental procedures. After it is established that there is a cavity, the dentist will remove the decay from the tooth. At that point, most of today’s dentists will get the composite material and put it into place over the cavity. The material will fill the area while not irritating the pulp inside the tooth. The composite will quickly harden, and the filling is all set.

Treat Your Cavities Today

When people hear that they have cavities, they immediately worry. There’s no reason to be alarmed. Dental cavities are quite common. Make sure you get routine cleanings and exams. If a cavity comes up, the team here at B&G Family Dentistry will get you the help you need. Give us a call today to set up an appointment.