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, Dennis Baik, DDS will continue to provide you with durable and high-quality white dental fillings to restore your tooth structure.
Looking to understand the difference between a dental inlay and a regular filling? Dental inlays are one of many restoration options that general dentists offer patients who are suffering from a damaged tooth. Another common option is a dental filling, which has varying characteristics but offers a similar outcome.Long ago, there were very limited options…
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To some people, dental fillings can be considered costly and uncomfortable. Because filling a cavity requires drilling the decayed tooth, people are often curious about what other ways a cavity can be treated.Traditionally, a cavity is treated by filling the tooth with a medically safe material to stop the decay from furthering. However, as dental technology…
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