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There are a host of reasons to consider restorative dental care for a damaged tooth that go beyond enhancing your smile’s appearance. Your oral health gets a big boost when you pursue treatments such as fillings, dental bonding or dental crowns. Even prosthetic appliances following tooth loss can help to preserve your smile’s integrity. Damaged or missing teeth can affect your bite, potentially compromising your ability to chew nutritious fruits and vegetables, as well as lean animal protein sources. You need certain vitamins and minerals for healthy teeth and gums, in addition to the benefits that these foods give to the rest of your body. Many people overlook this benefit of restorative dental care, however. Additionally, teeth that are not fully functional can have an effect on surrounding teeth. If there are spaces between teeth or if some teeth cannot fully participate in chewing, other teeth in the area might be subjected to excessive forces that they’re not designed to tolerate. You may need to spend more time with your dentist to repair that damage, as a result. Teeth that are out of position might face a greater risk for tooth loss, as well. Another compelling reason to get restorative dental care in a timely fashion is to prevent abscesses and other infections of the interior portions of your teeth. When a tooth is broken, the bacteria that reside in the mouth can more readily access the innermost sections of the teeth. These areas are rich with nerve endings, so infections that develop there can be quite painful. The bacteria may also enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the rest of the body. To avoid such outcomes, you should see a dentist as soon as possible after your tooth injury or recognizing that your tooth is damaged. You may not realize how much the condition of your teeth affects your oral health as well as your smile’s appearance. If you need a restoration, don’t delay in contacting our office to schedule an appointment and get started on the treatment process. It will benefit your health and your appearance.
Many patients prefer composite fillings over amalgam ones because the former restorations are tooth-colored and don’t detract from the smile, like noticeably dark metal ones do. Additionally, the composite fillings are mercury-free, which is important to some patients, as mercury has toxic properties. However, in the past, there has been some question about the durability of composite fillings, so patients may have been reluctant to consider this option for large fillings or those on teeth with a sizable chewing surface that would be subjected to repeated stress. Fortunately, composite filling materials have improved significantly in terms of durability over the past several decades, allowing your dentist to use this option in a variety of scenarios of decay. In fact, composite fillings have other advantages in addition to their durability and aesthetic benefits. They bond better with biological tooth enamel, so your dentist will not need to drill as large of a space to accommodate the filling as is necessary with amalgam fillings. When more healthy enamel can be preserved, it benefits the patient and helps the tooth remain stronger in the future. Additionally, composites do not expand and contract with temperature changes like amalgam ones do, so there is less of a chance that the composite filling with crack or break due to excessive cold or heat. The process of getting a composite filling is quite similar to getting an amalgam one. The decayed tooth material is removed via drilling, and the composite is prepared in the office. Its color can be manipulated to match the teeth as closely as possible, although it may not be the exact shade of your biological enamel. After the filling is placed, it is “cured” using a special light. The whole process is usually completed in an hour or less. In addition to being more attractive than dark amalgam fillings, tooth-colored composite restorations are quite durable and can stand up to strong chewing forces. If you want a more aesthetically pleasing filling for your cavity, contact our office about this treatment option.