General Dentistry: How a Dentist Uses Dental Fillings to Fix a Tooth

Dentistry is similar to family medicine: its practitioners offer basic services for oral health. These include checkups and examinations, professional cleanings, cavity prevention treatments (such as fluoride), and when necessary, filling cavities. Dental practitioners can also detect the early signs of tooth decay when damage is minor and more easily repaired by a dental filling.

Why do people get cavities?

In many cases, tooth decay is the result of improper or inadequate dental hygiene and excessive sugar intake. There can also be a genetic component: Some people are simply more prone to cavities. Other risk factors include tobacco use, diabetes, HIV, and even side effects from prescription medications such as antacids, antidepressants, antihistamines, opioids, and drugs for hypertension and osteoporosis.

In any mouth, bacteria feed on leftover bits of food, especially those with significant amounts of starch and sugar. As they feed, the bacteria form what is known as plaque, which eventually hardens into tartar. The process produces acidic chemicals that start eating into the tooth’s enamel. Unfortunately, unless you get regular dental exams and cleanings, you may not know it is happening until the acids penetrate the dentin, the calcified or bony part of the tooth. At that point, decay has reached the nerve endings and can cause serious pain when attempting to eat many kinds of solid food. Untreated, what starts out as a cavity can spread to the gums, causing gingivitis and periodontal disease (inflammation of the gum tissue).

How can you avoid cavities in the first place?

As the old saw goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Dental exams and professional cleanings at least twice a year are highly recommended. That said, brushing at least twice a day (and preferably after every meal) and flossing once a day is the recommended way to avoid tooth decay. Dentistry services offer fluoride treatments, which can help guard against tooth decay. Your dentist can also recommend an anti-cavity dental rinse; such products are usually available over the counter. It is also a good idea to limit or avoid sugary foods and eat more “detergent” foods such as apples and celery.

How does a dentist repair a cavity?

Even with appropriate oral care, cavities can still occur. After discovering a cavity, your dentist needs to determine what material to use to create the dental filling. The choice of material depends on a number of factors, including the extent of damage to the tooth, location of the tooth, and cost. Metals such as silver are commonly used. Many dentistry patients opt for a composite resin filling that more closely matches the natural tooth color; however, this kind of dental filling may wear more quickly.

Dental fillings are essential for preventing further damage. Tooth decay progresses relatively slowly through the enamel but tears through the dentin and pulp quickly. Getting a dental filling early on can stop this process in its tracks.