ANYONE CAN GET CAVITIES AND NEED FILLINGS
Your mouth is constantly producing a biofilm. Biofilm is made up of acids produced by bacteria that soften and decay teeth. If you don’t brush it off often, it will leech minerals from the saliva in your mouth and form a hardened residue called plaque. Plaque develops most heavily near overcrowded teeth that are hard to clean. This can lead quickly to cavities and fillings.
Periodontal pockets will start to form between your gums and teeth if you let this build-up. Your gums may bleed and become sensitive in a condition known as gingivitis. If this progresses, your mouth could form a pocket of infected tissue called an abscess under a tooth, which, if left untreated, could lead to a number of serious health risks.
HOW CAN I AVOID CAVITIES AND FILLINGS?
Prevention is the best defense again cavities. You should brush for at least 2 minutes, twice a day, and get regular dental cleanings. You should also, avoid acidic and sugary foods & drinks.
Early detection is the next defense for your teeth. Jewell will examine your teeth and use digital dental x-rays to look for the early formation of cavities.
Once identified, various types of dental fillings can be used to stop further decay from occurring.
TYPES OF DENTAL FILLINGS
- Amalgam Dental Fillings were the standard for many years and are still used in many situations today. A white filling is now often recommended for aesthetics.
- Dental Composites are also called “white fillings”. The strength and durability of composite fillings are not as high as porcelain or metal fillings, but they offer more natural-looking results.
- Gold Dental Fillings offer unparalleled strength and durability. Gold fillings are extremely comfortable and well suited for teeth in the back of the mouth.
- Porcelain Dental Fillings and onlays are beautiful and unnoticeable. They also add strength to weakened teeth.
- Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) is technically not a filling but, acts similarly to stop decay. SDF is a liquid. SDF is simply painted onto a decayed tooth. It is often recommended for pediatric use when the baby tooth will soon be replaced with an adult tooth.