Many modern dental filling options to repair cavities and restore your healthiest smile
The CDC reports that 21% of adults aged 20 to 64 have at least one untreated cavity. Are you one of these cavity-sufferers? Abingdon Smiles won’t know for sure until we look inside your mouth. If your teeth are healthy, we want to keep them that way! But, if we do find signs of decay, never fear. We offer complete services to get your teeth back in top shape again. Dental fillings are among these services. They are a comparatively conservative and modest procedure, and there have never been more materials for our dentists in Abingdon, Virginia, to use to make these common, cavity-fighting restorations.
What are cavities?
When the surfaces of your teeth are eroded, cavities or small holes may form. These holes leave your tooth vulnerable to further, deeper damage. So, it is important to get them treated in short order.
How do cavities form?
As the result of tooth decay – a destructive process fueled by a combination of sugars and starches in the foods and drinks we consume and harmful mouth bacteria, for this reason, staying on top of good oral hygiene is essential. You want to minimize the build-up of lingering food particles. Bacteria love the sugars and starches that stick around on your teeth. They feed off of them and eventually form a sticky coating called plaque. The acids in the plaque erode the tooth from the outside inward, starting with the protective enamel layer. Without treatment, parts of the tooth’s surface may be worn away. Cavities are essentially these eroded areas of each tooth.
Why would I need a filling?
Without treatment, any sensitivity or pain you may be experiencing will only get worse. Oral conditions do not simply go away spontaneously. They require treatment. As the decay progresses, more of the tooth is worn away. Eventually, more extensive restorative care, such as root canal therapy, may be needed to preserve the tooth and avoid its loss or extraction.
Do cavities always cause pain?
No. In fact, many oral problems are notoriously asymptomatic in their early stages. For this reason, it is important to maintain regular exams or checkups at the office of Abingdon Smiles. We can detect problems you didn’t know were present because your teeth “look and feel fine.” That said, symptoms can transcend an aching, painful tooth. You may also notice discoloration, stains, and visible pits in the teeth.
How does a filling treat cavities?
Fillings are largely dental materials precisely shaped and prepared to “fill in” the cavity or hole and effectively replace the lost tooth structure. Today’s dentists now place fillings made not only from metals (silver amalgam or gold) but also from non-metal materials like composite resin and ceramic/porcelain. We are happy to discuss the nuances of these materials. These options can vary in aesthetics, strength, and even how they are placed and secured to the teeth. If you are concerned about changes to a tooth or are simply due for a checkup, contact our team in Abingdon, VA, today at (276) 628-7862.
