Dental Tooth Fillings

Most people end up having a cavity in a tooth at some point in their lives and fillings are the most commonly used procedure for treating this. Fillings a sort of dental restoration used primarily to fix slightly damaged teeth or other issues occurring due to tooth decay. However they can also be used to treat a number of other problems such as evening out your teeth's surface to correct your bite (occlusion) or to fix problems with chewing.

Causes of Tooth Decay

Your tooth is made up of several layers the outermost is called the enamel. This outer layer is one of the hardest substances produced by your body. Beneath your gum line there's a layer of cementum, a substance which protects your teeth's roots. The inner layer of your tooth is made up of dentin which has the harness of bone and houses your nerve endings. Further into the tooth is the dental pulp, a tissue comprised of blood vessels, nerve fibers and capillaries.  Amongst the most common symptoms of tooth decay is the enamel being lost. This often results in an increased sensitivity to hot or cold and in more severe cases, toothache. You can help protect against toothache by maintaining a good oral hygiene regime. Most dentists agree you should brush your teeth and floss at least twice a day and keeping sugary drinks and snacks to a minimum will also help. Make sure to visit your dentist at least twice a year so that any potential problems can be spotted and prevented before they become serious.

The Filling Procedure

Most tooth decay is discovered as you undergo a regular dental checkup or if you have to urgently visit your dentist due to toothache. It's easy for your dentist to spot places on your tooth which have been affected by decay or damage. Once the decay is located the affected tooth is prepared and any decay is removed through use of surgical tools or a laser.

Before applying the filling material, it's necessary for your dentist to first isolate your tooth. This will help protect against any moisture affecting the bonding process, which could cause a number of problems. Following isolation, your dentist will firstly apply adhesives onto the affected area before adding the filling material. This is then hardened through use of a special light which activates the bonding procedure.

Types of Fillings

Traditionally, fillings were made from an amalgam of metals including silver, tin zinc, mercury and copper. Amalgam fillings are really sturdy and have a long life, upwards of seven years. Unfortunately, amalgam fillings won't match the colour of your tooth and often require healthy parts of the tooth to be removed to make room for the filling. One of the most popular types of filling currently used is composite fillings, created from a mixture of plastic and tiny glass particles. This type of filling also has a relatively long life, lasting upwards of five years. Composite fillings also have the advantage of matching your teeth's natural colour. The downside is that composites tend to cost more and often take longer to place than their amalgam counterparts.  Fillings made from gold, gold foil and glass ionomer are also available.

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