Which Kind of Dental Fillings is Right for You?
Individuals that adhere to a rigid regime of oral hygiene habits will have the best possibility at keeping their teeth as bright and healthy as possible throughout the years. Teeth are extremely durable and have the ability to last a lifespan with the proper care. Regrettably, even those patients that protect and care for their teeth with impeccable dental hygiene habits and regular trips to the dentist may sustain cracks, chips, diseased pulp, and dental decay at an alarming rate. For these patients, there are now quite a few choices when it comes to fixing the look of the teeth as well as their overall integrity. This includes dental fillings, one of the most effective and popular dental treatments that are used today.
Whenever an individual ingests any foods or beverages, it will begin to leave debris on the teeth and gums. This debris will eventually turn into plaque and tartar, slick and durable substances that attach to the teeth and will interact with all future foods and beverages that are consumed. They will then produce acids and bacteria that will eat away at the surface of the teeth and cause dental decay.
Excessive dental treatments or trauma to the face can also take a toll on one’s teeth. While teeth are extremely lasting, pulp is the living material inside the teeth and it is very susceptible to the bacteria that are in one’s mouth. Anytime that the pulp is exposed to the bacteria, whether it is from damaged roots or dental treatments that have gone awry, it can become infected. The patient will then need a root canal treatment in order to remove the pulp and preserve their tooth.
For each of these situations, dental fillings may be the best option to restore the integrity of the tooth as well as improve the appearance. For many years, there has been only one alternative for dental fillings: metal amalgams. These amalgams were used due to a number of benefits that they offered patients. This embodied their ability to dry quickly, resist infections, and how cheap they were for those that needed low cost dental treatments.
Tooth-colored fillings have become another popular option in recent years, and these fillings are made of a durable composite that can be stained to match the exact color of the neighboring natural teeth. Once in place, these fillings are often indistinguishable from the tooth itself, allowing patients to once again smile with confidence.
In order to figure out which of these options may be correct, every patient should consult with their local dentist. This includes those that believe they may be currently struggling with tooth decay as well as individuals that have not obtained a thorough checkup within the last six months.
Robert Mondavi DDS, Torrance dentist uses dental fillings, amalgam fillings, white fillings, tooth colored fillings, silver fillings are various other types of dental fillings for restoring teeth.