Do you have a sweet tooth? Have you neglected the health of your teeth over the past few years? If you haven’t looked after your teeth well or you tend to over-indulge in sweet and sugary foods, you have a higher chance of developing tooth decay. This is because sugar feeds the bacteria that live in your mouth. These bacteria produce acids that soften and dissolve the enamel of your teeth — creating holes in your teeth, otherwise known as cavities. Tooth decay can become serious if not treated properly or left untreated for a long period of time. For one, tooth decay can become quite painful, but it can also result in tooth loss.
The good news is, it’s never too late to start caring for your teeth properly. Your friendly dentist at Kafkalias Dental Clinic can treat tooth decay with a dental filling or a dental crown. It is important that tooth decay is removed as soon as possible; otherwise, it can cause serious issues which may lead to extensive surgery, such as root canal. This is why it’s recommended that you have regular checkups, so your dentist can identify tooth decay before it gets too severe.
At our clinic, we offer tooth coloured restorations or white dental tooth fillings to fill any cavities that have formed in your teeth. There are two common types of tooth coloured restorations that we offer at About Smiles:
Composite Filling
Composite fillings are also known as resin fillings. These dental fillings can cover issues such as cracks and chips in your front teeth and can also cover big holes in your back teeth. This the most common and affordable type of dental filling treatment for decayed teeth.
Once your dentist has located a decaying tooth, they can start the procedure by injecting local anaesthesia to make sure you feel nothing at all. In some cases, no anaesthesia is needed if your dentist has spotted the tooth decay early, the cavity is not deep or appears as a tiny dot on the tooth. Your dentist will then remove the decayed parts of the tooth, clean around the area and restore the cavity with dental filling material. A blue LED light is then used to set the filling within a few seconds.
Ceramic Filling
Ceramic dental fillings are normally recommended for larger restorations or crowns. These fillings are a type of porcelain dental filling that offer better longevity and durability than composite fillings, and are less likely to stain. Often, a ceramic filling is made outside of the mouth by a dental ceramist after assessing the damage to your tooth and then creating the dental filling to fit. Because of the complex process used to create them, ceramic dental fillings cost more than composite fillings. However, because of their longevity, they are considered a smart investment.