The Facts on Fillings

How What You Eat Causes Cavities

Cavities are not always caused due to high sugar intake. It’s mainly the combination of the acids from the sugars and the harmless bacteria that is present in the mouth, which leads to small holes and weakened tooth enamel.

What Are Dental Fillings?

Dental fillings are a common treatment to restore missing tooth structure, which could have happened due to a cavity or an accident.

Silver Fillings

They are known as silver fillings due to their silver looking appearance when they have been placed.

The advantages of silver fillings are that they have been successfully used for many years. Silver fillings are easy to place and the most cost-effective filling available. Regarding the cons, due to the use of mercury in silver fillings, some patients do not wish to have these fillings.

Composite Fillings

They are also known as direct fillings as these are made with a tooth-colored putty-like material, which is applied directly on your tooth. These fillings look quite natural.

White composite fillings are relatively cheap, aesthetically pleasing, long-lasting. One of the few disadvantages of white fillings is that they can stain over time. For this reason, they are most commonly used on back teeth. They are also not as durable as other types of fillings.

Getting Dental Fillings

The dental filling procedure is initiated by preparing the tooth and necessary surrounding areas in order to restore the damaged area. The decay is removed with a laser or a dental hand-piece, and the area is cleaned to remove bacteria before the restoration is completed. The first step in conducting a composite filling procedure includes isolation of the tooth. The bonding procedure involves various adhesives followed by the composite material, which is then hardened with a bonding light.

There is nothing to fear from a dental cavity because it has become quite common. Not to mention, it’s easily treatable. If you get a cavity, the dentist will easily fix a tooth-colored filling, which will clear the cavity and restore the tooth.