Finding the right dental procedure for your needs requires knowing your options. Here is the complete guide to dental fillings and how they can help.
Did you know that more than
90% of people over the age of 20 have had a dental cavity at least once at some point in their lives? Once dental cavities form, they can cause all sorts of problems. To fix them, you will need to get dental fillings from your dentist in Brewster, NY, otherwise, they will only continue to get worse.
Fortunately, the dental filling procedure is quite simple and not as scary as many people think it is. This is not to mention that there are also many types of dental fillings that you can choose from so that you can get the best results from this procedure. Keep reading and learn more about dental fillings and cavities themselves.
Why Do Dental Cavities Happen?
Dental cavities are one of the most common dental problems around. Their cause is rooted in the fact that several different strains of bacteria live in your mouth. These bacteria can cause all sorts of dental problems such as tooth decay, gum disease, and, of course, cavities.
The problem begins when you eat or drink something and then don't brush your teeth. This is especially true if you consume something sugary or sticky and then ignore your
dental hygiene. The bacteria in your mouth particularly love sugary things.
Once you eat something, the bacteria will start to metabolize the food particles left on your teeth. As a result, they will produce acid. This acid will coat your teeth and while it won't cause you any discomfort, it will start to eat away at your tooth enamel.
You usually won't notice this happening at first because it is such a slow process. One of the first signs of tooth decay is tooth sensitivity. This is because your tooth enamel has become so thin that it can no longer protect the roots on the inside of your teeth.
Cavities will also start to form once your tooth enamel becomes soft enough. Cavities are hard to spot when they first start out. This is because they usually look like little white dots on the surface of your teeth. However, if you leave them untreated, those dots will eventually become brown or black and at a certain point, they will turn into holes.
These holes will get deeper and deeper until they reach the more sensitive tissues on the inside of your tooth. Then, you will start to feel tooth pain because the nerves and blood vessels inside of your tooth will almost be exposed.
Understanding Dental Fillings
It is best to treat your cavities as soon as possible, no matter the
dental filling costs. If you let cavities go untreated, it is possible that the affected tooth could become infected. When this happens, the infection could end up spreading to other teeth and causing much more serious problems.
There are many benefits of dental fillings and the dental filling procedure is not a scary or painful procedure at all. This is because your dentist will give you a local anesthetic. This will make it so you won't feel any pain when the dentist works on your tooth.
If you are particularly nervous, your dentist may give you some nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas. This will calm you down and put you in a more positive mood for the duration of the procedure. The dental filling procedure is quite simple.
First, the dentist will need to drill out the cavity. This is important for removing the decayed tooth enamel. If the dentist doesn't do this, the decayed tooth enamel could continue causing problems for the rest of your tooth.
Once the dentist is done drilling the tooth, he will need to fill the resulting hole with something to protect the tooth. As mentioned before, there are many types of dental fillings that you can choose from. Some last longer than others and some are more affordable than others.
Different Types of Dental Fillings
Metal fillings are quite an old-fashioned type of filling. They are very strong but they are also very noticeable because they don't match the color of your teeth. Silver amalgam fillings have been popular for years, mainly to fill cavities in molars rather than incisors or canines.
Gold fillings are also very sturdy, but they are also expensive. More than that, many people don't like the look of them because they are so noticeable. If you want something that looks more natural, porcelain dental fillings may be the ideal choice.
You can use porcelain fillings both on your front and back teeth because they match your tooth color perfectly. No one will even be able to tell that you have dental fillings in the first place. Porcelain fillings are also very sturdy and they are not likely to crack or sustain damage even after years of wear and tear.
The only downside is that porcelain fillings can be quite expensive. A similar alternative is composite resin. Composite resin fillings also match the color of your teeth and they are more affordable than porcelain.
However, they are not quite as durable as porcelain. For that reason, they may start to sustain damage only after a few years.
Dental Fillings from Your Dentist in Brewster, NY
As you have seen, getting dental fillings from your dentist in Brewster, NY, isn't all that big of a deal. The procedure is quite quick and there are many different dental fillings to choose from. Porcelain fillings are one of the most popular because they are very durable but also very realistic in appearance, although metal and composite resin fillings are also good choices.
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