Oral fillings are one of the staples that we perform every single day at the clinic. It is always our goal to remove all of the bacteria and plaque that could have caused the cavity in the first place, fill the cavity, and remove any damaged enamel as well. To ensure this, we will often have to drill into the tooth to make sure that any enamel that has been compromised by the decay is removed, clean the inside of the cavity extremely thoroughly, and then fill the hole that is left using dental fillings.
Most patients are fairly knowledgeable about how a cavity forms. What many people do not realize is how important maintaining healthy teeth are, and that the teeth actually spend a lot of their time repairing themselves in a constant battle with plaque. Teeth use the naturally occurring minerals, calcium, and phosphate, which is found in saliva, along with water and fluoride to repair themselves.
The challenge is that after a while, with a constant barrage of acid-inducing foods, the plaque can overcome this natural defense mechanism, and the bacteria causes a small hole to appear in the enamel. When this happens people find themselves in need of oral fillings.
Getting oral fillings is as easy as visiting our office and letting us do all the work. While we are working to fill cavities on a day to day basis, the dental community is always working behind the scenes to make sure that patients have the best experience possible and to improve the quality of the repair work that we can offer. For example, it was not that long ago that most fillings were completed with metal, and made the filled teeth look like they constantly had something on them.
Today, we use filling materials that are the same color as natural teeth. We can fill cavities that are more visible without ever influencing the smile. These kinds of innovations are exactly what dental scientists work on behind the scenes. In 2012, the University of Maryland Dental School came up with a new filling system that is designed to do more than just fill the teeth. While it is still in testing, this new filling method will kill any residual bacteria in the cavity.
In addition to killing off any remaining bacteria, this new system is also supposed to be able to help the enamel to re-grow and regenerate the tissue that has been destroyed by the bacteria. By working towards solutions like this, we are always looking for the next innovation or invention that can make dental care easier. Our hope is that eventually when you get an oral filling, it will work to make your teeth stronger, and better able to resist any kind of infection or bacterial decay. For now, Dragonfly Dental of Port Charlotte will continue to provide you with durable and high-quality white dental fillings to restore your tooth structure.
The popularity of tooth-colored fillings keeps increasing among patients with cavities, as well as their dentists. In the past, they were only performed on the front teeth that were more visible. Today, it is possible, and increasingly common, for patients to have fillings that mimic the appearance of natural teeth in the back teeth as…
Dental caries, commonly known as tooth decay or cavities, are a prevalent dental problem. Composite fillings are one great solution to this often painful and sensitive issue. Composite fillings work to stop tooth decay in its tracks while still allowing filling recipients to maintain a more natural-looking smile, unlike other filling types.Composite fillings, composite resin…
Composite fillings are resin materials made with a plastic and glass mixture. Dentists began to use tooth-colored fillings in the 1960s, but they were too weak for the back teeth. Nowadays, the composite resin is strong enough for all teeth. Dentists may use the fillings to restore a decayed tooth or reshape a disfigured, cracked,…
Dental patients with chipped or broken teeth have more options for tooth repair than in the past, such as the use of composite fillings. These fillings can not only restore a tooth but also prevent the need for extraction, which can leave gaps in the smile and cause the remaining teeth to shift. They can…