Cavities & Fillings

Almost everyone has had a cavity at some point in his/her life, mostly when they were young. This office uses composite or white filling material when restoring cavities. The white composite filling is the restorative material of choice due to its durability and cosmetic factor. Silver fillings are no longer placed in this office.

A cavity is a hole in the tooth resulting from tooth decay. It usually comes from food matter on the tooth that has not been removed. This food matter then eats away the tooth. A cavity can be very big or as tiny as a pinhole. No matter the size, once a hole is there, it must be filled or it will only get bigger.

The procedure is short and involves a quick anesthetic to ensure a painless experience. The cavity, or decayed tooth material is removed and a new composite filling is placed and hardened immediately.

Our office recommends composite fillings. A composite should last 5-7 years, or longer with regular dental visits. After this time, the material has started wearing down and may become “leaky”, meaning, that saliva and plaque seeps through the filling and begins decaying the tooth underneath the filling. This is not unusual and happens to almost everyone. The best treatment is to remove the old filling and put in a new one.

Visit Blumdentist.com for more details.