There Is No "One Key" To Great Dental Health

Four Things You Didn't Know About Teeth Fillings

You hear about fillings all of the time. Many people have them and many people are told everyday that they are going to need some. However, not many people understand why fillings are actually important or what they even do. Here are four things you might not know about fillings:

  1. ​Fixes Damaged Tooth Enamel: The part of your tooth that protects the whole thing from getting an infection is the enamel. This is the hardest part of the tooth that prevents the bacteria from getting into the sensitive part of the tooth, which is the nerves. This is also going to prevent infection. However, once the enamel is compromised, it leaves space for this bacteria to get into the tooth and if it is not taken care of, the tooth will completely succumb to decay. 
  2. ​Prevents Root Canals: A root canal is needed once the bacteria has reached the nerve of the tooth. Luckily, it takes time before this happens, but this is also why it's important to visit your dentist every six months. Once the filling is put in place, you don't have to worry about a root canal since it prevents bacteria from reaching the nerve. 
  3. Decay is Cleaned Away: Once a cavity is present, there is a certain level of decay that is present, although it may be really small. Before the filling is placed, the tooth is going to be fully cleaned so that the present decay, no matter how small is stripped away. At this point, the bacteria present is also removed as much as possible so that it does not become trapped underneath the filling. 
  4. White Fillings Fuse to the Tooth: You may have heard about fillings falling out; however, this is not the case any longer and is fairly rare. This is because the white fillings fuse to the tooth, which silver fillings do not do. When this happens, it's difficult for the filling to become loose, so you can have the filling in place for many years to come. 

When you know these four things about fillings, you can better understand why they are important and need to be done right away. This is also why regular dental visits are important, as well as well checks with your dentist if you notice any kind of tooth pain. This is typically an indicator that you have a possible cavity that needs to be filled. 

Contact an office like New Image Dental to learn more.


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