Did you know that your teeth are the hardest substance in your body? Even harder than your bones? But despite their strength, teeth are vulnerable to decay, which slowly eat away at your tooth from the outside in – and sometimes even inside out.
Tooth decay is more common in the back teeth. Decay can often be prevented by good oral hygiene habits (brushing and flossing) and a healthy diet which is low in sugar.
Many people mistakenly believe that they do not have tooth decay or cavities because they have no pain. When cavities are small, they cause no pain, and can be easily fixed with a dental filling to prevent decay from getting larger. It is therefore important to visit us for routine dental check-ups and x-rays, so that we can help you detect the cavities before they become large and painful.
If the decay has progressed into the nerve of the tooth, then a dental filling can no longer fix the problem; either root canal treatment or removal of the tooth would be required.
At Parade Dental Ocean Grove, we use white (resin composite) dental fillings for:
- Filling cavities caused by decay
- Restoring parts of teeth which have been worn away – e.g. from brushing too hard
- Rebuilding broken down or fractured teeth
- Changing the shape, size, or colour of teeth for cosmetics (with composite veneers and bonding)
We rarely place amalgam fillings for teeth. In most cases, when an old amalgam tooth filling needs to be replaced, we will place a new white (resin composite) tooth filling.
Nothing lasts forever. Dental fillings can become worn and chipped. When this happens, it may not be noticeable to you. A small opening between the tooth and the filling will result in food and bacteria leaking into the tooth, causing damage. It is important that you have regular dental check-ups, so that we can check the condition of your dental fillings.
