Did that tiny piece of your coworker’s birthday cake at the office leave you grimacing in pain? Has it been months since you were able to enjoy a scoop of your favorite ice cream? Does cold water or hot coffee cause you discomfort? If so, you could be suffering from a cavity. Cavities are an incredibly common dental problem. Fortunately, they are also easily addressed, in most cases. In fact, modern dental fillings now offer effective and esthetically-pleasing ways to address dental decay, and restore both the smile’s beauty and function!
Seamless Solutions for Restorative Treatment
The reason cavities frequently cause discomfort is because it means that the layer beneath the teeth’s enamel has become exposed, due to acid erosion. This layer, the dentin, is more sensitive than the enamel, which is why many patients experience sensitivity, particularly when trying to enjoy hot or cold foods or beverages.
Unfortunately, for many years, dental fillings were primarily made of metal, which posed a number of concerns for many patients. For instance, those with metal allergies and sensitivities didn’t make good candidates for metal fillings. Others experienced discomfort due to metal’s relatively high conductivity. Still others were embarrassed by the noticeable addition of metal to their otherwise beautiful smiles.
But modern fillings can be made in a more esthetically pleasing alternative. These fillings are often called tooth-colored fillings, and they are made of a composite resin material that offers several benefits.
Besides providing an almost seamless way to restore the smile, composite resin is also excellent for dental treatment because it bonds well with the teeth, providing a durable seal against further decay or erosion. The resin does not conduct heat as much as metal either, making it more comfortable for many patients, particularly those with metal allergies or sensitivities.
If you think you might have a cavity, it’s best to seek restorative treatment as soon as possible, when minimally invasive treatment can still be effective. The longer you wait, the more likely you are to develop an infection, which could require root canal therapy, or even an extraction.
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