As your dentist’s appointment gets near, the level of anxiety and apprehension increases by many folds. Because it is no secret, dental treatments can be scary and, at times, even painful. Cavities are a prevalent dental problem in people of all ages, especially children. Improper brushing habits, bad eating habits, high sugar intake, and even your genetics can make your teeth fall prey to the bacterium that destroys the tooth structure.
In the past, dentists used to fill all the cavities, even if they were the size of a dot with no tooth damage, to prevent their spread. The fear of getting under the dental drill was and is still unimaginable. However, we have good news for you. Fortunately, due to advancements in technology and dental treatments, not all cavities need fillings. Nevertheless, the question is why.
What Cavities Do Not Need Fillings?
Over the past years, dentists have come up with alternative solutions to fillings. Whether you need a dental filling depends on the size and extent of the cavity- the damage it has done to your tooth or teeth. Furthermore, these alternatives depend on your commitment to oral hygiene and the prevalence of cavities in your mouth.
If the cavity is small, with no damage to internal layers of the tooth- it is limited to only the outer layer of enamel; it is possible that you will not need to get it filled. You can avoid going under the dental drill, especially if you have good oral hygiene.
However, if you have a large cavity or one that appears small but has extended deep into the tooth, you would need a dental filling and often more aggressive dental treatment like root canal therapy, a dental crown, and even extraction. This is especially true when tooth decay extends the cavity into or near the dental pulp, making the tooth very painful and sensitive, even infectious.
Alternatives To A Dental Filling
If your dentist has told you that you would not need a dental filling, he will brief you about other alternatives to save your dental health and protect your smile. Let us look at what these alternatives are:
Fluoride Application:
If the cavity is in its initial stages or a child presents with multiple small, superficial cavities, the dentist might recommend a fluoride treatment. Fluoride helps arrest the small cavities by halting the spread of decay and restoring the enamel. This treatment can be done for the affected tooth or all teeth, especially if the patient is susceptible to dental caries. The dentist might perform the fluoride treatment in the clinic or recommend high-density fluoride toothpaste and mouthwashes for daily use to boost dental health.
Sealants:
Dental sealants protect the teeth from dental cavities. These chemicals are applied to all teeth similarly to the fluoride treatment. You can consider them a plastic coat on your teeth that dentists use, especially on the back teeth- molars.
Fluoride And Sealants Can Be Applied To The Teeth:
· In healthy teeth, to prevent the formation of cavities in people with high caries prevalence
· In decayed teeth, to halt the progress of cavities and demineralization of the tooth
If the cavities cannot be restored by any of the non-invasive methods, as discussed, the dentist will have to resort to other treatments with no choice left.
Does Filling A Cavity Hurt?
Filling a cavity may or may not hurt, depending on the tooth’s condition. In most cases, where the cavity is not painful or extensive, the process of dental filling does not hurt. If the patient presents with pain, sensitivity, and even infection (pus or abscess), they will not let the dentist examine them, let alone do the filling. Initially, the dentist will prescribe medicine to subside the symptoms. However, if still, the patient is in pain, the heat from the dental drill can aggravate their symptoms so that the dentist would do the filling under local anesthesia. To save yourself from such discomfort, ensure that you visit the dental clinic regularly, every six months, so the dentist can identify the tiniest cavity and take the necessary measures.
What Is The Safest Dental Filling?
Dental fillings are made up of various materials such as Amalgam, GIC- Glass Ionomer Cement, Composite Resin, or Metals such as gold. To date, amalgam is considered to be the best filling material. It contains elements such as mercury, copper, and tin. It has been widely used in the past, as it is incredibly durable, strong, and affordable. The mercury in this dental filling material has often raised concerns, however, the American Dental Association has marked this material as safe, as the released mercury is too negligible to cause any damage. The aesthetics offered by mercury are not great. Now there are filling materials like composite and GIC that have adequate durability and strength with excellent aesthetics and are used widely these days instead of amalgam. The non-metal materials are also considered the safest.
How Long Should Fillings Last?
The durability of dental fillings depends on the type of material used, how well you take care of them, and your visits to the dentist. While amalgam takes the award for the highest durability, lasting for decades, composite can also last up to 20 years. GIC has the lowest durability as it tends to “leach out” and is used only as a temporary filling. So, it would not be wrong to say that a dental filling can last anywhere from 5 to 20 years on average.
Key Takeaway
As they say- the best dental filling is no filling at all. So, take care of your oral hygiene and habits with regular visits to your dentist to protect your teeth against dental problems. Relax; even if you get a cavity, you may have nothing to worry about yet, as not all cavities need fillings.
