What are cavities?
A cavity is a small hole in your tooth caused by tooth decay. Over time, these tiny holes grow larger and deeper, eroding your tooth enamel and exposing your tooth to harmful plaque and bacteria. Some of the most common cavity symptoms include:
- Tooth pain
- Pain when chewing
- Tooth sensitivity
- Visible holes in your tooth
- Dark tooth stains
When left untreated, cavities begin to eat away at your tooth enamel and reach your pulp and exposed nerves. That’s why it’s important to seek treatment at the first sign of a cavity.
How are cavities treated?
Dr. Cummings treats her patients’ cavities with composite fillings, a tooth-colored filling that looks exactly like your natural teeth. When compared to alternative options, such as gold or amalgam fillings, composite fillings offer a number of benefits for your teeth, including:
Aesthetics
Unlike gold and amalgam fillings, composite fillings are color matched to your teeth, making them look as natural as possible. These fillings are especially appealing for patients with cavities in the front of their smile.
Preparation
When compared to alternative fillings, composite fillings typically require less tooth preparation, allowing Dr. Cummings to salvage more of your existing tooth.
Bonding
What makes composite fillings especially unique is that they bond well to your natural tooth structure, enhancing their durability.
Versatility
Because composite fillings look exactly like your existing teeth, the resin in the filling is also used to restore worn, broken, or cracked teeth. It even masks tooth stains and fills in gaps.
How do fillings work?
Once Dr. Cummings assesses your teeth and determines you have one or more cavities, she starts by removing all the decay from your tooth, preventing future damage from spreading. Depending on the size of your cavity, this removal may leave behind a large, noticeable hole in your tooth. This is where the composite filling comes in.
Dr. Cummings then fills the hole with composite resin, molding it to replicate the exact shape and shade of your existing teeth. Next, the filling is cemented into place using an ultraviolet light—a fast, effective process that delivers durable results.
The longer you wait to have a cavity filled, the more likely you are to suffer from tooth pain and decay. To learn more about how composite fillings can save your teeth, call Sterling Ridge Cosmetic & Family Dentistry or book an appointment online today.
