Fillings for Cavity-Stricken Teeth
Tooth decay, the cause of cavities, can often form unnoticed and from as little as just a spot of missed plaque on your teeth. Plaque, which harbors hundreds of types of oral bacteria, can calcify into tartar when you miss a spot. Tartar can’t be removed at home, and the bacteria have a much better chance of eroding your tooth enamel and structure. A cavity forms as the infection (decay) in your tooth spreads, and the faster we fill it, the better chance you have of saving your tooth.
How a Tooth Filling Saves a Tooth
A tooth filling is a biocompatible restoration designed to fill a cavity that has formed in your tooth. After we remove the oral bacteria and the decayed tooth structure from within the cavity, we can place an appropriate material, such as metal amalgam or tooth-colored composite resin, to fortify it. The filling not only restores the tooth’s strength and integrity, but also stops oral bacteria from reaching the exposed tooth structure and causing the cavity to grow larger.
What Happens if You Ignore a Cavity
When a cavity develops, one of the most prominent symptoms of it is increasingly worse pain in your tooth. The longer it’s left untreated, the worse the pain will become, and the more involved the decay and destruction of your tooth will be. Besides increased discomfort, hesitating to treat a cavity can also lead to:
- Diminished bite function as the tooth grows weaker
- Increased risks of internal decay (infection of your tooth’s pulp)
- The need for root canal treatment
- The loss of the tooth or need to extract it
- The risk of infection spreading beyond the tooth
- And more
Stop a Cavity from Decaying Your Tooth
Cavities may be common, but their threat is significant, which is why treating yours with a tooth filling as soon as possible is essential to your long-term oral health. To find out which tooth filling is best for your cavity, schedule an appointment with us by calling MMC Dental in Houston, TX, today at 713-926-8896.
