Dental Fillings vs. Cavities

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Cavities are the most common chronic dental issue, so it’s no surprise that dental fillings are among the most frequently recommended dental treatments. A cavity is a hole in your tooth that is caused by tooth decay and grows larger the longer it’s left untreated. A filling is a custom restoration that your dentist places in the cavity after cleaning and sanitizing the tooth. Fillings stop cavities from growing, and therefore help you repair your tooth and save it from more serious damage.

How a Dental Filling Works

Teeth are strong; in fact, they’re the most resilient parts of your whole body. However, when oral bacteria overwhelm them, they can fall victim to bacterial infection (tooth decay), which causes a cavity to form in your tooth structure. The first step to repairing the tooth is for your dentist to carefully clean away oral bacteria and infected tooth structure. Then, your dentist can fill the cavity with a restorative filling to replace the lost tooth structure. A filling procedure not only removes the decay from your tooth, but also strengthens the tooth so that it can continue to perform its duties.

Benefits of Tooth-Colored Fillings

Like all dental treatments, modern fillings can be custom-designed to meet your specific needs. Many of today’s fillings are crafted from tooth-colored composite resin, which is a biocompatible resin that can be tinted to match the appearance of your tooth. In addition to remaining discreet, tooth-colored fillings offer a number of other benefits, including:

  • More secure restoration by bonding to your tooth structure
  • Reduced risk of filling failure compared to metal, which changes shape over time
  • No risk to patients with metal allergies
  • Less abrasion against opposing teeth, which means less chance of excessive tooth wear
  • And more

Fix Your Cavity with a Filling

If you have a cavity, then fix and save your tooth with a tooth-colored filling! To schedule an appointment with your dentist, contact Healthy Smiles in Gary, IN, by calling 219-938-2637, or by emailing our office at info@healthysmilesnwi.com. We also proudly serve the residents of Gary, Miller, Miller Beach, and all surrounding communities.