What Is A Cavity?
Cavities, as their name implies, are essentially holes in your teeth caused by decay. You can sometimes spot a cavity, as the area surrounding the hole generally looks dark brown or gray.
The main culprits to blame for your cavity are certain types of bacteria in your mouth. These bacteria are contained in plaque and they interact with the carbohydrates and sugars in your food creating an acidic environment that dissolves the protective enamel on the outer layer of your tooth. Once the acid succeeds in eroding the enamel, your tooth is exposed, leaving just the softer dentin layer, which will ultimately cause the formation of a cavity. At this point the decay process rapidly speeds up and spreads deeper into the tooth.
Why Do I Need A Filling?
A filling is necessary to treat your cavity because if left untreated the decay will eventually grow and will enter into your nerve canal. And yes, this can be as painful as it sounds. It can also lead to more serious problems such as infection or abscess.
In addition to potential pain and discomfort and possible tooth loss, if you wait to have your cavity filled it may end up requiring a more difficult procedure, such as a root canal, to save your tooth.
Composite Restorations
Tooth Color Fillings
Composite restorations (fillings) are the most modern way to restore teeth and to match existing color.
Once the tooth is filled and the composite has hardened, the filling is checked to make sure it has the proper shape and appearance.
New Composite Filling Expectations
Following the filling procedure it is very common to experience some discomfort. To alleviate the discomfort you can follow your dentist’s recommendation on taking an over-the-counter pain medication. If your symptoms persist then you should visit your dentist.
In some cases the decay could be quite deep and close to the nerve of the tooth. In these instances the nerve could already be infected with bacteria. Even though a filling has been placed, there is still a good chance that the tooth may need root canal therapy to relieve the discomfort.
Some larger composite fillings may not be sufficient to restore teeth, requiring future permanent crowns.
