How Did I Get Cavities, and Which Fillings Are Best For Me?

May 30, 2021

How Did I Get Cavities, and Which Fillings Are Best For Me?

What are cavities?

When your teeth decay, either through insufficient dental care or due to a genetic predisposition, the outer layer (the enamel) and sometimes the inner layer (the dentin) will break down, causing damage to the tooth. This type of damage is called a cavity.

When you have a cavity, you might experience pain in the tooth, which could include a general tooth sensitivity; pain in the tooth when eating certain food,

How do you get cavities?

A lack of proper brushing or flossing your teeth, particularly after consuming sugary or carbohydrate rich foods like candy, soda, desserts, bread and other baked goods, will allow the foods to mix with natural bacterias that turn into acids, which then eventually break down the enamel of your teeth, causing cavities.

Though we often think of cavities as something that happens more often to children, people of all ages are susceptible to tooth decay, depending on their oral hygiene and dietary habits.

In fact, due to changes in factors like eating habits and changes in hormones actually makes pregnant women at higher risk for cavities and other dental complications. According to the CDC, roughly a quarter of women who fall into the category of “childbearing age” have untreated cavities, which, statistically speaking, also puts children at risk for cavities, with their being three times more likely to have cavities.

Cavities, while unfortunate, are incredibly common

Though it’s important to do everything that you can in order to prevent yourself and your loved ones from the conditions that can cause cavities, it’s also important to note that tooth decay is actually the second most common disease in people, beaten only by the common cold.

While this doesn’t mean that “Everyone has cavities, so what’s the big deal?” what it does mean is that cavities have been widely studied for many, many decades, and that dental professionals have incredible knowledge on how to best treat your smile to make it stronger and healthier after you’ve had a cavity.

How are cavities treated?

The most common way to treat cavities is by having them filled. A filling, sometimes called “dental restoration,” is where your dentist prepares, cleans, and fills the tooth so that normal activity and function of the tooth can be restored.

In order to make you as comfortable as possible during the procedure, we use a local anesthetic, which will numb the area surrounding the tooth or teeth that will be treated. You shouldn’t feel any pain during the procedure, but perhaps will feel pressure during certain steps.

We also offer nitrous oxide (also called “laughing gas”) to help you feel as relaxed as possible during the procedure.

After the anesthetic and nitrous oxide are working, we will remove the decay from the affected tooth. Once we’ve removed the decay, we will always double check to ensure that all of the cavity has been removed before removing any debris or bacteria that may be in or near the area we intend to fill.

Your mouth will continue to feel numb for the next few hours until the anesthetic fully wears off. You shouldn’t feel any pain, but some patients do feel slight discomfort after the procedure, which can be treated with an over the counter pain reliever like ibuprofen.

How are cavities filled?

Today’s fillings are quite different from those of just a few decades ago, and are available in a wide variety of materials, including gold, porcelain, glass, and even plastic. The two most common materials used these days are amalgam and composite fillings.

Amalgam fillings are made from metal-based materials, which is why they’re often referred to as “silver” fillings. Amalgam fillings have been used for over a century now and have been proven to be an effective and durable means for dental restoration. They are, however, more noticeable than other types of fillings due to their metallic color.

Because of this, they are often used to fill molars as they can be less noticeable in teeth that are in the back of the mouth.

Another increasingly common type of dental restoration material is called composite, which is filling material that is tooth colored, made possible by its being a combination of quartz or glass. Composite fillings are incredibly versatile and can be used for fillings in front or back teeth, and are very durable, though are not necessarily as durable as amalgam fillings.

We’ll always recommend the best options for your overall dental needs, so that you can enjoy your life with a healthy, beautiful smile.

Are you feeling tooth discomfort? Do you think you have a cavity? Contact Carter Park Dental TODAY so that we can help you find relief as soon as possible. Don’t delay!

Sources:

Preventative Care

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