If you take a trip to the dentist with a toothache problem, and he works on your teeth, you would see that he is applying a gum like substance on your teeth.
It’s nothing but dental fillers.
These dental fillers are used by dentists to repair your teeth, and come in variety of make and type, from the common plastic and resin to metals such as silver and gold. The fillings can treat several conditions and it’s not tooth decay that we are looking at.
Here is how dental fillings can treat and repair your teeth.
• Tooth decay
This is one of the most common conditions for which dental fillings are used, usually it would consist of the dentist determining the teeth that is affected and the state of decay. After which, he or she would apply a local and use a drill to make a small hole and remove the decay. It is only after this that the dentist would start preparing the filling to be used, where a lining would be first used to protect the softer core. The dentist may use fillings of any make, from tooth colored filings made of plastic and harder resin to metals, and with the lining made of eugenol which can release fluoride, which prevents further decay from setting in.
• Wear and tear
Often you may wear out the enamel of your tooth from repetitive action, such as grinding corn, or opening up bottles with your teeth. Either of these will affect your tooth to the point that your tooth would soon start becoming sensitive to temperature changes. And if left unchecked, the tooth will decay thanks to plaque and bacteria. So a dentist will use a smaller filling to cover the cavity and if possible reverse the decay altogether if it is still in the early stages.
• Gaps in your teeth
As you grow older, you may notice that the natural gaps present in your teeth seem to be getting wider. This is on account of receding gums and as more of your tooth’s base is exposed to bacteria, they become more vulnerable to decay. So if you have gaps in your tooth, then you can get them checked out and see if the gaps can be filled and arrest decay if any is found.
These are some of the reasons for which dental fillings is used by a dentist and while a dental filling is not a permanent cure against decay, it does provide a modicum of relief rather than having an open cavity in your mouth.
Moreover, with so many improvements in cosmetic and dental surgery you can remove the offending tooth with the decay and opt for an artificial one to be implanted but the process can be tiresome compared to just having it filled in with resin or metal. And remember, if you have just had your cavity filled in, then your tooth would be extremely sensitive to hot and cold food items, and you may even experience some pain and discomfort for a while but it should fade away in a day or two. So remember to call in on your dentist today without fail.
