Is Dental Filling Always Required for Cavities?

No, a dental filling is not always required for cavities, although it is the most recommended form of treatment. A cavity is a hole that has been drilled into a tooth. If you have dental caries, you will need to have them repaired as soon as possible.

Having an untreated or ignored cavity can lead to the tooth breaking down and becoming useless for chewing or even talking. This affects not only your oral health but also your overall health.

There are two types of cavities: deep cavities and shallow cavities. Cavities affecting a small part of the teeth, teeth fillings may be a suitable treatment. Deep dental cavities require other forms of treatment like dental crowns, inlays or onlays, or root canals. Our dentists in Richmond Hill, ON will recommend a suitable treatment based on the severity of the decay.

What are Cavities?

Cavities are tiny holes that form on the enamel. Teeth are made of a protective hard layer– enamel. Beneath the enamel is a softer substance known as dentin. When a cavity forms, the tooth is weakened by acid-producing bacteria in the mouth. This causes the dentin to dissolve and eventually leads to perforation of the tooth, which can be very painful. Getting cavity treatment is crucial to protect your dental structure and oral health.

How Are Dental Cavities Treated?

Dental cavities can be treated in various ways depending on the severity of the situation.

• Dental Fillings

A dental filling is a dental restorative material used to fill up or repair a hole in the tooth. Dentists in Richmond Hill, ON typically use various materials for making these fillings, with silver amalgam being the most common. Amalgam fillings are made from a combination of mercury, silver, and other metals. Other types of teeth fillings include porcelain, ceramic, and gold.

A dentist may recommend a dental filling in Richmond, ON if you have minor teeth cavities. He will drill the cavities clean the area and fix a tooth filling. The process of fixing the dental fillings differs based on the material you choose. Porcelain and gold fillings require more than one dental visit to be fixed.

• Inlays and Onlays

Inlays are small types of crowns used to repair extensive decay, and they are inserted into the chewing surface of teeth. Onlays are applied over the chewing surface of teeth, usually to cover worn-out areas, chips, or crack.

• Root canal treatment

A root canal treatment is a procedure that removes infected or damaged tissue from inside a tooth, allowing for healthy tissue to be left behind. Usually, this procedure is only needed when the nerve inside your tooth becomes infected or damaged. Your dentist in Richmond Hill, ON will remove the nerve to prevent further infection, and you will need to get a crown if there are any problems with the root canal.

• Fluoride treatment

The dentist may use fluoride treatment to restore the enamel if the cavity is newly formed.

Fluoride replenishes the lost minerals (strengthens the teeth) and reverses mild dental cavities. You can find fluoride in dental products, water, and supplements. You can also get the professional fluoride treatment that involves the application of varnish, gel, or foam on the teeth.

• Dental crowns

A crown is typically made of metal, porcelain, or a combination of both materials. Some are made with a ceramic material that resembles natural tooth enamel. A dental crown will cover the entire tooth, unlike other types of restorations that cover the cusps.

• Tooth extraction

Tooth extraction is a procedure where a dentist removes one or more teeth from the patient’s mouth. This procedure is usually done as a last resort as the doctor is trying to fix cavities.

The dentist in Richmond Hill, ON will begin by numbing the area with an anesthetic and then using various tools to extract the tooth. He will remove any remaining tooth fragments and close the wound with stitches before giving you some pain medication and prescribing antibiotics.

Schedule an Appointment

Visit Richmond Dental Care for more information about cavities, tooth fillings, and other forms of treatment.