Has the scream you used to elicit when enjoying a nice mint chocolate chip cone transformed into a screech of pain? If you’ve noticed sensitivity, or especially pain, while trying to enjoy your favorite hot beverages or cold treats, you could be struggling with a dental cavity. Most people will experience cavities during their lifetimes, in fact. Fortunately, treatment is much simpler than you might realize. Plus, modern advancements mean you don’t have to opt for a noticeable metal filling. Here are just a few of the ways a tooth-colored dental filling could help improve your smile!
What Makes Composite Fillings Great?
Modern dental fillings are still available in metal, but many patients and dentists now prefer using composite resin, instead, for a number of reasons.
- Resin bonds well with teeth, and you don’t have to worry about it conducting heat during chewing or drinking, which can cause discomfort.
- It can be made to very closely match existing teeth, so the resulting treatment is nearly invisible and seamless to the rest of the smile. It can even improve the look of teeth formerly covered in dark black crevices, due to the cavity.
- The material is durable and creates a tight seal, helping to prevent against further decay and even infection.
- It is safe for use in most patients, including those with metal allergies.
What You Need to Know About Cavities
One of the most important things to remember, if you suspect you might have a cavity, is that teeth are not able to repair themselves the way many other parts of the body can. This means that an unaddressed dental issue is likely to worsen over time. In the case of cavities, this could lead to an infection requiring far more invasive treatment than a simple dental filling.
So, if you have started experiencing sensitivity, pain, or noticed dark discoloration (a few symptoms of a cavity), make sure to schedule an appointment with your restorative dentist, quickly. The dentist can help restore your oral health and improve the overall function and appearance of your smile, in the process, utilizing a modern dental filling.