Most of us knows what it means to get a cavity. It’s the one thing we hope the Dentist and the Hygienist don’t find when we come in for a check-up and cleaning! So what is a cavity and why do we have to have them filled?
A cavity is essentially a bacterial infection of a tooth. It is caused by bacteria invading weakened enamel, creating a byproduct that continues to weaken that enamel and allowing the bacteria to invade the inner layer of the tooth called dentin. Once the bacteria crosses into the softer dentin it can grow quicker, and can eventually work its way into the nerve space of the tooth and cause severe pain.
So when a filling is done, your Dentist removes the decayed tooth structure and the bacteria that caused it, and seals it up with a filling material. There are lots of different materials that can be used for a filling, the two most popular being amalgam (the silver stuff) and composite (the tooth colored stuff).
At Waco Family Dentistry we only use the tooth colored stuff. It looks better, it allows our Dentists to remove the least amount of tooth structure possible and with newer technologies like Kerr Sonic Fill 2 composite, the filling material is very durable.
Of course nothing lasts forever! Fillings can leak around the edges, break or pop out. Sometimes a filling becomes too large and a crown needs to be done to add strength back to the tooth. Dr. Schwab and Dr. Little will help you come up with the best plan for your situation.
If you just had a filling and your are looking for post care information click here.
