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.
Cavities
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.
Oral Fillings Treatment
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, James E Sullivan DDS will continue to provide you with durable and high-quality white dental fillings to restore your tooth structure.
Recent Posts
White Fillings Are a Natural Looking Solution for Your Dental Needs
Most people need white fillings at some point in their life. This procedure has become so common that it is literally the one thing most people associate with dental work. For us, this is a …
What Can Cosmetic Dentistry Fix?
Not very many people lose their baby teeth, and in exchange, get perfect adult teeth that need nothing done to them. There is always something that can be done to improve your smile. Enhancing your …
Visiting A Cosmetic Dentist in Fort Washington Can Improve Your Health
As a cosmetic dentist in Fort Washington, the work done by us is more significant than just whitening your teeth or improving your smile. In fact, as science is advancing, more people are becoming aware …