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Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Filling you in on Fillings

There’s a reason why dentists recommend regular dental appointments to go along with efficient oral hygiene practices. Even if you brush thoroughly every day, you might find that your teeth are developing cavities that should soon enough need fillings. What are dental fillings, and when would you need them?
Cavities

Dental cavities are bacterial infection brought about by certain carbohydrate-rich food and some of the microorganisms pervading the human mouth. Bacteria will eat away your teeth’s enamel to get to the dentin, and eventually will reach the nerve endings and blood supply that courses through the teeth.

The Fillings

Treating cavities involves two steps. The first includes removal of the decayed portion of the teeth. Then, filling material needs to be resupplied to the empty fissure where the decayed tooth was removed from, so as to keep it from getting further infected. The tooth might be a bit sensitive right after filling though, so don’t panic if it remains so for a few days afterwards.

Filling Material

There are various dental filling materials that a dentist may use for your teeth. Dental amalgams are some of the oldest still used today, but with the increasing fear of mercury leaks in the material, more alternatives have been made available. For one, composite fillings have the advantage of needing less preparation and having a strengthening effect on the tooth.

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