admin
Jan 12, 2024
Teeth are an integral part of our mouths and help maintain an attractive look. They create a charming smile and can win hearts with their shine. However, they can also become a big concern when painful and infected.
It is common to experience toothache at some point in your lifetime. It usually results from tooth decay, which indicates damage caused by bacteria in the dental plaque.
The plaque is a sticky film consisting of bacteria that covers the teeth and is formed due to inadequate oral hygiene. If the plaque is not removed, it hardens and calcifies to tartar, responsible for cavities and gum disease.
The decaying process begins with the demineralisation of the tooth enamel. When the enamel breaks down, it gives way to small holes on the tooth’s surface known as cavities or caries.
Hope Island dentists treat these with the help of fillings to stop further damage. Let us help you understand how dental fillings can prevent the onset of tooth decay in detail. It will help you know the advantages of the treatment and spread awareness about the process.
What Is A Dental Filling?
Dental fillings are used to treat cavities and can be made up of plastics, glass, metals or a combination of all these materials. It is used to fill the pit created after the removal of the decayed part of the tooth.
It can also be used to cover cracked or chipped teeth. The different types of fillings are based on their composition. These include gold, silver, porcelain, and composite resin fillings.
Most people prefer the resin filling because they look and feel like natural teeth in appearance. Most of the dental fillings can last from ten years to fifteen years.
The porcelain filling is considered the most durable, lasts for more than fifteen years, and does not get stained like the resin filling. While gold fillings are expensive, affluent people get them to showcase their status.
Alternatively, silver fillings are affordable but require the creation of a deeper pit that can lead to tooth fractures and cracks. Besides these materials, there are indirect fillings that are prepared in the laboratory.
These fillings are used by dentist in Hope Island when the tooth cannot support a filling but is not damaged enough to be covered with a crown. These fillings can last up to 30 years and can be made from any metal or resin.
How Do Dental Fillings Prevent Tooth Decay?
As discussed above, cavities are formed due to the presence of hardened plaque in the mouth. The bacteria present in the plaque converts sugar into acids that erode the tooth enamel and create holes on the tooth’s surface, known as cavities.
Usually, they are not even noticed until the bacteria reach the inner layer called dentin, a tissue under the enamel. The part of the tooth comprises tiny tubes that reach the nerves of the tooth and are vulnerable to damage on exposure.
Tooth decay can aggravate further and cause pulp damage or an abscess that can affect the bone. Root canal or extraction is the only choices left in the later stages of tooth decay. However, if detected early, the damage can be prevented with the help of dental fillings.
So, when your dentist in Hope Island discovers a cavity during the examination, they suggest dental filling treatment to stop further decay. The process requires the removal of the decayed part and filling the void with the filling material to seal the tooth and prevent bacterial infection.
The dentist ensures the tooth regains normal structure and offers proper chewing support. Since the filling covers the exposed nerves, it eliminates sensitivity and pain. Sometimes, filling can lead to sensitivity, but it goes away with proper aftercare.
Some children who are prone to developing cavities because of their food habits and tooth cleaning regimen can also opt for dental sealants. It involves covering the surface of molars with a thin plastic coating to stop food debris from accumulating in the grooves and causing cavities.
How to Avoid Tooth Decay?
Tooth decay begins with the formation of plaque in the mouth when teeth are not brushed properly and the mouth is not cleaned daily. Brushing twice daily is essential to remove food debris from the mouth, which gives birth to bacteria.
Visiting your dentist in Hope Island every six months is highly significant in maintaining optimum oral health. Most people are unable to identify tooth decay until cavities are formed or the dentin is affected.
However, dentists can identify the silent problems during a thorough examination and offer the best treatment at the earliest to stop the infection from spreading.
Expert practitioners also suggest drinking fluoridated tap water to ensure strengthening of the tooth enamel. In addition, it is essential to floss once a day and avoid eating sticky and sugary foods that can lead to tooth decay as they get stuck to the teeth.
People who do not go for regular dental check-ups can identify tooth decay through inflammation of gums, toothache and sensitivity.
Wrapping Up
Tooth decay is damaging and can lead to pain and expensive treatments if left unattended. Dental fillings help restrict the impact of bacteria and save the tooth from irreversible damage. Regular examinations can help in identifying the problem early and treating it.
