Though most people experience tooth decay at least once in their lives, many of them are able to treat their cavities early enough to stop the decay from causing significant damage. In many cases, the most appropriate solution is a tooth-colored filling, which conforms to the shape of the cavity in your tooth and blends in with its appearance. While tooth-colored fillings can do an excellent job of blending in with your teeth, their main benefits stem from their ability to do what tooth fillings are meant to do with optimal results, and with better long-term implications for your oral health.
Stopping the growth of a cavity
A cavity, which forms when a tooth starts to decay, is a hole that’s left behind as the infection in your tooth grows worse. The more a cavity grows, the less healthy, natural tooth structure remains, and the more it will affect the tooth’s structural integrity. Therefore, one of the primary goals of a tooth filling procedure is to stop the cavity in your tooth from growing, which involves carefully removing the bacteria and infected tooth structure from within your tooth. Afterward, a biocompatible material such as tooth-colored composite resin can be placed in the cavity, restoring the structure that has been lost.
Preserving your healthy tooth structure
When you stop a cavity from growing and fill in what’s been affected so far, the next goal is to preserve the healthy, natural tooth structure that remains. Reestablishing its structural integrity is one way in which a tooth filling does this. With its strength restored, your tooth can once again take the pressure of your bite without any heightened risks of becoming damaged. Also, the filling will provide a protective barrier for the exposed part of the tooth, which could otherwise remain vulnerable to becoming infected once again by oral bacteria.
Protecting your tooth in the future
When tooth decay develops in your tooth, the tooth’s future health and integrity can be impacted in several ways, depending on how soon you treat it. Fortunately, treating a cavity with a filling can help you improve your chances of preserving the tooth and avoiding the need to extract it, or losing it, in the future. This also improves your overall long-term oral health, as tooth loss can have a significant and negative impact on the rest of your teeth and oral structures, as well.
Filling a cavity can save your tooth
With a custom, biocompatible filling, you can save your tooth from the damage that an unchecked cavity could cause. To learn more, schedule an appointment or initial consultation by calling Advanced Dental Concepts in Auburn Hills, MI, today at (248) 852-1820.
