Why Are Dental Fillings Necessary?

Although patients come to Danforth Village Dental Care seeking solutions to their dental issues, many still question their need for dental fillings when they are recommended. In dentistry, a dentist may recommend any number of appliances for your treatment, each with a reason for it. Therefore, should your dentist recommend getting dental fillings in East York, Toronto, ON, it is because they are necessary for your treatment.

What Are Dental Fillings?

They are oral materials used in dentistry to repair and restore damaged teeth. Dental fillings usually restore the damaged enamels of teeth by replacing the diseased portion with new material. The role of dental fillings is to seal out the entry of bacteria from accessing the insides teeth, causing other dental problems.

When Should You Get Tooth Fillings?

It is not your responsibility to determine whether or not you need dental fillings. Usually, after a dental exam by your dentist in East York, Toronto, ON, he/she will come up with a suitable plan for your treatment. Patients that need tooth fillings include:

• For cracked or broken teeth – tooth fillings are used to close any opening on a tooth that may result from the dental injury.
• For preventing dental vanities – dentists use a special type of tooth filling called dental sealants. Sealants work as preventive measures to protect teeth from dental decay before the formation of cavities even begins.
• For dental decay – is the most common reason why dental fillings are necessary for dentistry.

What are the Causes of Tooth Cavities?

Dental cavities are the most common dental problems people face. They occur when the enamel of teeth is damaged by bacteria enough to expose the inner layers thereof. The process of dental decay begins with the build-up of plaque on the surfaces of teeth, formed when food residues and saliva mix in the mouth. The overgrowth of bacteria then begins to release harmful acids that damage the enamel of teeth gradually.

At first, the process of cavity formation begins with a slight discoloration of teeth. As you go, the cavities grow deeper, so that they form holes in teeth that create access to the internal layers thereof. When bacteria begin to access the inner layers of your teeth, you will begin to experience dental issues like toothache, tooth sensitivity, bad breath, abscessed tooth, to mention a few.

Are You At A Risk of Dental Cavities?

Although anyone can get dental caries, some people have an increased risk of getting tooth cavities than others. Some of the factors that increase your risk of dental cavities include:

• People with a sweet tooth – have an increased liking for sweet and sugary foods.
• People who slack in dental hygiene – if you do not brush your teeth every day.
• Eating many acidic foods and drinks – like lemons and oranges.
• Diabetic patients – diabetes can increase the likelihood of oral problems like gum disease and dental cavities.
• Having a dry mouth – the lack of adequate saliva in your mouth can increase your risk of dental cavities.
• Poor lifestyle habits – including snacking too often, crushing candy with your teeth, smoking, and other tobacco usages.

Aside from those factors, the likelihood of getting tooth caries is higher when you are younger, usually below age 14, and as you get older, that is after 45 years.

The Role of Tooth Fillings

Tooth cavity treatments can entail various dental appliances, but the commonly employed one is a tooth filling. A filling can sufficiently replace the damaged part of a tooth and seal it off so that no more bacteria damage the various layers of the tooth.

Tooth decay treatment with dental fillings entails first drilling out the damaged part of the tooth. This step will also entail cleaning the tooth to remove any active bacteria that keep worsening the decay process. After cleaning, the dentist will fill the tooth with a dental filling of choice.

Depending on the size of the tooth filling, the dentist may determine to include another dental appliance for your treatment. If the tooth filling is too big for the structure of your natural tooth, your dentist in East York, Toronto, ON may recommend crowning it to help hold the tooth filling in place. However, it does not happen in all tooth cavity treatment sessions.