Unless you take good care of your teeth, it is likely that you will suffer from cavities someday. Fillings are used to repair teeth that have decayed due to cavities. Your dentist will make use of a filling in order to protect the damaged tooth from further decay. If left unattended and unfilled, the cavity will get worse and lead to further decay, which could potentially negatively affect your teeth and gums and this could ultimately lead to bone loss.
The next step will be the cleaning of the decay tissue from the damaged tooth. This will be done either by using a laser, a special dental drill or an air abrasion instrument. The type of instrument used by the dentist mainly depends on where the decay is located and how severe it is. This is necessary to prevent it from causing more dental issues in the future. Once the decayed tissue has been removed, the dentist will proceed to remove debris before he can begin filling.
Once the dentist has cleaned the tooth and other adjoining areas to remove any bacteria, he will then use a filling to fill in the hole. The filling can be made from materials such as gold, silver, porcelain, amalgam, tooth-coloured plastic or resin. The choice of filling will depend on where the damaged tooth is, how severe it is, your budget as well as your dentist’s preference. Once the filling has been put into place, it will be cleaned and polished.
The process does not take longer than 15 minutes unless the cavity has caused major damaged and you can begin eating as soon as the anaesthesia wears off, although it is wise not to use that side for a few days. Some tooth sensitivity should be expected in the first few days, especially if you are eating extremely cold or hot foods. You can avoid fillings by making regular appointments with your dentists so that he can help you identify and treat cavities early.
ASK OUR DENTISTS
Do you have a question for our Dentists? We are here to help! Please click below to email us.