Are toothaches impacting your daily life?
Ever since we were young, we have been taught the importance of good oral hygiene. However, cavities are still one of the most common dental problems that is caused by poor hygiene habits. The team from Pain Free Dental Clinic in Moss Vale can provide efficient dental fillings that will restore the health of your natural teeth and prevent decay.
A cavity is a hole in the composition of the tooth, caused by decay and softening of the enamel. When there is poor oral hygiene, the weakened enamel will break down over time, resulting in pain and difficulties in chewing. By the time the pain propels someone to take action, the cavity has damaged the tooth structure, and will require fillings to prevent further decay.
If left untreated, cavities can grow in size, cause extreme pain and ultimately, can destroy the entire tooth, leading to extractions or other costly dental treatments.
A cavity can be caused by a variety of factors, but poor oral hygiene and diet are the primary reasons. Sugary and starchy foods are the main causes for cavities, as these foods are able to cling onto teeth, causing bacteria build up that will breakdown the enamel over time.
Whilst cavities are more common for children, adults are not immune. Irregular dental check-ups, low fluoride intake and not brushing or flossing your teeth correctly can also cause the appearance of cavities.
A filling is a dental treatment that fills in the pit a cavity has left in the tooth. This will prevent further decay, as well as restore the shape and health of the affected tooth. By filling in the cavity, it will also alleviate any pain and discomfort.
Dental fillings were used by dentists as early as the 1800s. Since then, dental technology has come a long way with silver, acrylic, glass ionomer and gold fillings available. Acrylic fillings are one of the most common materials used as they are durable and are virtually undetectable on your natural tooth. Gold fillings are less common as they are more expensive and will require to be custom-made.
Your dentist will examine your tooth and recommend the best option for your dental needs.
Dental fillings used to be just as painful, if not more, than the pain inflicted by the cavity itself. Thankfully, modern dentistry and anaesthesia has meant that dental fillings can now be a swift and painless procedure.
Most fillings take as little as 20 – 40 minutes to complete, with local anaesthetics to ensure the patient won’t feel any pain. The areas impacted by decay will be drilled out, and the filling will be inserted. There is also little to no pain after the procedure, once the anaesthetic has worn off, so you can get back to your daily routine with very little disruption.
At Pain Free Dental Clinic, we live up to our name by providing our patients a variety of methods that will reduce pain as much as possible. We can also provide sedation dentistry to help you relax during your procedure.
Don’t let your small cavity grow into bigger problems. Contact our friendly team to book an appointment for your next dental check-up!