Repairing Cavities for a Healthy Smile
Fillings help to prevent the spread of decay in a cavity to other teeth and can alleviate pain or sensitivity. Without treatment, cavities can worsen and lead to you requiring a root canal, or losing the tooth altogether.
Materials such as amalgam, gold, and porcelain are often used in fillings.
At Beaverbrook Dental, we prefer to use composite resin fillings over metallic ones. These fillings can be more easily matched to the colour of your natural teeth, making them less noticeable in your mouth.
Signs You Need a Dental Filling
Cavities form when sugars interact with bacteria on your teeth, forming acids that dissolve your enamel. The following are some signs that you might need a filling:
Sensitivity to Hot & Cold: The decay in the tooth can expose the dentin (the layer just beneath the outer enamel) and, eventually, the nerves, making them more sensitive to temperature changes.
Pain When Chewing: Decay can weaken the tooth's structure, leading to discomfort when pressure is applied. This pain may indicate that the cavity has progressed and is affecting the deeper layers of the tooth.
Visible Holes in Teeth: As the decay eats away at the enamel, visible holes or pits can start to form. If left untreated, these holes can continue to grow and deepen, eventually leading to more serious dental issues.
Dental Filling Replacements
In some situations, patients may want to replace silver-coloured mercury amalgam fillings with composite, tooth-coloured fillings for improved aesthetics.
Composite fillings can offer a more natural look that blends with your teeth, providing a discreet solution to cavities. For years, composite fillings were only used for the front teeth, but their strength has improved as technology has advanced. Nowadays, they are an option for the back teeth as well.
Composite fillings can also bond directly to the tooth much better than they used to, providing more support and reducing the risk of future fractures.
Schedule an appointment with our dentist today to replace your silver-coloured mercury amalgam fillings with composite, tooth-coloured fillings.