What are dental fillings? How do they benefit us? If you love your teeth and are willing to take good care of them, then maybe it’s time to see a dentist to find out whether you need dental fillers or not.
Dental fillings are used to fill in teeth that have been affected by tooth decay and cavities. When patients develop cavities, the dentist removes portions of the natural teeth that are infected. Dental materials are then used to fill in the empty space and maintain the structural integrity of the tooth. Dental fillings are also used to repair cracked or broken teeth and teeth that have been worn down from misuse such as from nail-biting or tooth grinding (also called Bruxism).
The bacteria in your dental plaque that develops whenever you don’t brush your teeth converts the sugar that you eat into the acid. This acid then slowly dissolves a small portion of the tooth, thereby causing cavities. When this happens, you only have one treatment choice: get a filling. The problem is, most people postpone treatment simply because they don’t know how big of a problem this is. If you postpone treatment, the cavity will never go away on its own. It just gets bigger and bigger. So do see a dentist regularly.
What are the benefits of dental fillings?
First of all, it is a relatively quick procedure to complete. When only one tooth is affected by decay, the fillings treatment can be completed in less than one hour. The effects however, are long lasting. Tooth-colored fillings tend to last about five to seven years, while silver fillings tend to last about 12 years. The cost is also rarely a problem as treatment is typically covered by dental insurance. How does it look? Tooth-colored filling restorations produce a natural appearance, barely perceptible to the naked eye.
There are also different types of dental fillings and each will be discussed soon! Today, several dental filling materials are available, including gold, porcelain, silver amalgam, tooth-colored plastic, and materials called composite resin fillings. There is also a material that contains glass particles and is known as glass ionomer.
Stick around to find out more!
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