You’ve heard the advice over and over again: be sure to brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss every night, and visit your dentist for a check-up twice a year. (Ideally, though, you should try to brush your teeth after every meal.) The reason you do this is to remove plaque and food particles from your teeth to prevent cavities and tooth decay from forming. Cavities can greatly compromise the overall structure of a tooth if they go untreated, which may lead to tooth pain, weakened teeth, chipping or cracking of a tooth, or even tooth loss.
Cavities can be hard to detect, especially ones that are small or just starting to form. That’s why visiting your dentist twice a year is so important. A skilled Springfield, MA cosmetic dentist like Dr. Robert Rapisarda will be able to identify those small cavities as well as cavities that are forming. This is great for effective restoration and cavity prevention.
There are plenty of benefits to getting a dental filling. For one, getting tooth decay identified and treated early is ideal for maintaining overall dental health. We mentioned earlier how tooth decay can compromise the overall structure of a tooth and lead to many dental problems. When you get a filling, these problems can be dealt with promptly. Less tooth structure will be lost when you get a cavity filled, which means less potential damage to a tooth and its internal structures. Really, this is just a means of guaranteeing your lasting dental health down the road.
Another benefit of getting dental fillings is that they are not the metal fillings of the past. In fact, those fillings were found to have many adverse effects. For one, metal fillings can expand and contract slightly in extremes of temperature, which can cause slight tooth damage or even discomfort. Sometimes these fillings also contained mercury, which is a toxic and harmful substance.
New white fillings are made of a composite ceramic material that is the same color as your natural teeth. Placing these fillings requires less tooth preparation than placing metal fillings, which is another benefit.
If you have more severe tooth decay, another treatment option will need to be used. Inlays and onlays are a good option. These are essentially large fillings designed to restore more substantial portions of a tooth. These are quite sturdy and able to restore the appearance of a smile as well as a person’s bite strength. In cases of major tooth decay or damage, a dental crown will need to be used. These are caps that are fitted over a severely damaged tooth, restoring its appearance and protecting it from further harm.
To learn more about dental fillings, Springfield, MA teeth whitening, and the many other options available for effective dental care, contact our Barre, MA cosmetic dentistry practice today. Our entire team looks forward to meeting you in person.