Why Do I Need A Filling?

You probably do your best to take care of your smile. If you brush and floss your teeth twice a day, you mind your nutrition, and you visit your dentist for regular exams, you are doing the best you can. Though, sometimes, despite your best efforts, you may still find yourself with a cavity. The causes are often a lax in hygiene, but things like grinding your teeth or misalignment can lead to tooth decay. A cavity is formed once tooth decay has eroded enough of your enamel to create a small hole. A filling for a cavity can stop tooth decay from progressing. 

Progression of Tooth Decay

In the earliest stage of tooth decay, it may be able to be reversed with a cleaning and improved hygiene. Early decay usually has no noticeable pain or signs to the person it is affecting. This makes it very important to maintain regular check-ups with your dentist because your dentist can identify tooth decay in early stages. Once there is erosion of enamel, their is no way to reverse it. If left untreated, the decay will reach the dentin, the inner layer just beneath the enamel. Without a filling, the decay can deepen into the inner pulp, where infection and inflammation can become quite painful. A root canal treatment may be required to remove the infection from the inner pulp of the tooth. An abscess infection can form at the tip of the root near the bone that may present the need for a necessary extraction of the tooth.

A Filling Stops The Progression

To treat a cavity with a filling, your dentist will completely disinfect the tooth and remove any damaged pieces of tooth. Your dentist will then restore with a composite resin bonding material to protect it from future damage and decay.

A filling can save your tooth