Did you know that dental enamel is the hardest substance in the human body? Considering this, you may wonder how it's even possible to get cavities.
Dental enamel is strong, but it's no match for the acid that's produced as a result of harmful bacteria in your mouth. As the acid sits on your teeth, it eats away at dental enamel and results in a cavity.
Fortunately, when this occurs, we can use composite tooth-colored dental fillings to restore the tooth after decay has been removed.
What Do Composite Fillings Do?
When a tooth is decayed, it needs to be treated as soon as possible to prevent the damage from spreading. A filling is a conservative and affordable treatment that protects the tooth and restores its strength, appearance, and function.
What If I Don't Get a Tooth Filled?
If you don't have the decaying tooth filled, it will become damaged to the point where you will require a root canal to save it. And if you skip the root canal, you'll find that you can't tolerate the pain, and the tooth will eventually need to be removed.
What Are the Benefits of Composite Fillings?
Since a composite filling is bonded directly to the tooth, we don't need to remove a lot healthy tooth structure. One of the goals of dentistry is to help protect your oral health by preserving as much of your natural tooth structure for as long as possible.
Also, composite fillings are a mixture that contains glass and resin particles and have the same lustrous, translucent appearance as dental enamel. The material can be customized to match the shade of your teeth, and the result is a virtually invisible repair.
What's the Best Way to Avoid Decay?
The only way to minimize the need for fillings in Birmingham, AL is to maintain appointments for exams and cleanings every six months at Cook Family Dental. During these check-in visits, Dr. Aaron Cook will examine your teeth to identify potential problems and stop them in their tracks.
Please call us to schedule your next appointment so we can help protect your smile!