Filling a tooth involves the removal of the decayed or damaged portion of the tooth. This space is subsequently filled with a material that guards against additional damage. The filling also restores the functionality and aesthetic of the tooth. Fillings can be composite resin, silver amalgam, gold, porcelain, or glass ionomer. Each of these materials has its own unique merits. Regardless of what your dentist determines for your dental fillings in Spring Valley to be optimal for your mouth, proactively addressing tooth decay will go a long way in preserving the integrity of your teeth and gums.
Tooth Fillings do More Than Remedy Cavities
There is a common misconception that tooth fillings are only helpful in instances of tooth decay. Though fillings are commonly applied to the portion of the teeth where decay has occurred, they also serve additional purposes. For example, tooth fillings are also used to repair broken and cracked teeth.
Fillings Can Last Upwards of 15 Years
Opt for cast gold fillings or porcelain fillings, and they will prove effective for upwards of 15 years. Some such fillings last even longer. In addition, today’s fillings are highly resistant to corrosion, mentioned in dental fillings in Spring Valley. Though you will pay a bit more for a filling that lasts upwards of two decades, it will protect your tooth for an extended period and provide you with invaluable peace of mind.
Today’s Fillings Match the Aesthetics of Natural Teeth
Dental fillings made of composite resin are optimal for those concerned with tooth aesthetics. Composite resin fillings blend in perfectly with the rest of the teeth. So don’t be concerned about how your fillings will look. No one will be able to tell that you have a filling in your mouth.
Modern Day Fillings Can Even Release Fluoride
Some fillings like the glass ionomer variety release fluoride to safeguard the tooth in question from additional decay and damage. This type of filling is commonly used in instances where there is decay beneath the gum line. It can also be used for pediatric patients.
Tooth Fillings Can Bolster a Tooth With a Weakened Structure
Indirect fillings are optimal when the existing tooth structure is weakened so it can’t support a traditional filling. If this damage has not reached the point where a crown is necessary, an indirect filling in the form of an onlay or inlay will prove more effective than a traditional filling.
Tooth Fillings Can Prevent Infection
If you need dental work like a root canal performed across several visits, a temporary tooth filling can be placed to give the tooth and gums ample time to heal before dental fillings in Spring Valley. This temporary tooth also allows the nerves to relax before adding the permanent filling. In addition, the use of a temporary filling ensures the exposed tooth does not become infected while waiting.
Improved Tooth Functionality
Dental decay has the potential to make chewing quite difficult and painful. Have your decayed teeth filled, and you might find eating proves less painful.
Fillings help protect teeth that have already been damaged by tooth decay from decaying any further. In addition, once a tooth is filled up, any pain or discomfort associated with the cavity should disappear.
Fillings are also one of the cheapest medical procedures performed. That’s one of the reasons why it’s so important to go to your dentist immediately if you notice any cavities in your mouth. Once the cavity grows to the point that the pulp chamber is compromised, you’re going to spend a lot more than the filling cost to save the tooth.
