Dental Filling
Spokane, WA
There are all kinds of fillings in this world. We love them all. Those lovely donut fillings, or pie fillings - and who could forget hot dog fillings? We sure can’t. We try to restrict the number of those kinds of fillings, we use because if you eat too much of those yummy fillings, you might have to taste a different kind of filling - a dental filling. While dental fillings aren’t as much fun to have in your mouth as a hot dog or a piece of apple pie, they are necessary. Fillings can save your smile, but can they can save your teeth? Not sure what we mean? Our practitioners at Dynamic Dental Care would love to tell you more about fillings.
Why Are Fillings So Important?
Dental fillings are more important than nearly every type of every procedure we do here. Dental fillings are a tool we use every day to repair teeth that have been hit by bacteria from tooth decay. While bacteria are present in your mouth all the time, they can cause trouble. When you brush your teeth or you floss, you are able to keep most of the bacteria off your teeth and gums. However, if you miss a spot brushing or flossing, those bacteria will relentlessly eat a hole in your tooth. Over time, the bacteria make the hole bigger and bigger until it works its way down into your tooth pulp and your tooth nerves - which is when your cavity might become painful for you. One cavity can lead to the loss of a tooth or spread to other teeth.
The best way that we can remedy this situation is to use a filling. The earlier we can fill a diseased tooth, the better it is for your overall dental health. That’s because teeth remain stronger the smaller the filling, and it is less likely we will have more repair work to do on the tooth later. Big fillings tend to weaken teeth. Fillings also prevent the cavity from returning.
What Do We Use For Filling Material?
In the past, we used silver amalgam fillings. However, they are problematic for a couple of reasons. First, old amalgam fillings had mercury in them, which is hazardous, because mercury is a poison. The new silver amalgam fillings have no mercury, so they are safer. Many people don’t like the look of silver fillings, because they are visible in your mouth when you smile. A lot of people prefer to have composite fillings because they match the color of your teeth. That means that unless you tell people, they’ll have no idea you had a cavity at all.
While we’re on the subject of fillings if you have an old filling that you are concerned about, why not ask us about it? There are several options we can use to replace old fillings with new ones, which will help you keep that tooth healthy and strong.
Do you have a tooth that is bothering you? Are you worried about coming in to get that tooth filled? We can help! Let us get that cavity fixed and get you back on track for great dental health! Give Dynamic Dental Care a call at (509) 466-2587. |
