Filling. If the cavity extends more than halfway into the enamel, a filling can be used to restore the tooth to its normal shape and function. Typically, the tooth will be drilled to remove decay, and the drilled area will be filled by a material such as porcelain, gold, silver, resin, or amalgam.
What happens if you have a hole in the side of your tooth?
Tooth decay is damage that occurs when germs (bacteria) in your mouth make acids that eat away at a tooth. It can lead to a hole in the tooth, called a cavity. If not treated, tooth decay can cause pain, infection, and tooth loss.
Can a cavity on the side of a tooth be filled?
After removing decayed portions of a tooth, dentists can fill the cavity to seal the hole and restore proper function. Teeth can be filled with porcelain, gold, silver, composite resin or amalgam, which consists of mercury mixed with copper, silver, zinc and tin.
Does a hole in tooth always mean cavity?
A hole in your tooth is most likely a sign that the bacteria in your mouth has created a cavity. If your dark spots or holes are visible on your tooth, this means the cavity has gone untreated for a while and you should see a dentist right away.
Can a cavity heal itself?
However, unless a cavity is in the beginning stages of formation, it cannot heal naturally, especially for one that has broken through the dentin. When you start feeling pain in the localized tooth, it’s a sign that the damage is too significant, and you should see a dentist for professional cavity treatment.
What happens if you don’t get a cavity filled?
If you don’t treat a cavity, the decay will penetrate your enamel and then keep going deeper to the root of your tooth. Not treating a cavity can result in tooth damage, infection, and even tooth loss. You should see a dentist every six months and get a cavity filled as soon as it is discovered.
Is there an alternative to fillings?
Composite resin fillings are the most common alternative to dental amalgam. They are sometimes called “tooth-colored” or “white” fillings because of their color. Composite resin fillings are made of a type of plastic (an acrylic resin) reinforced with powdered glass filler.
What are the safest dental fillings?
Amalgam fillings are safe. A great deal of research has examined these fillings and found them to be an effective, long-lasting treatment for dental decay. Amalgam, or silver, fillings are made with mercury, silver, tin and copper. In some cases, other metals may be included in amalgam fillings, too.
Do all cavities need fillings?
In short, the answer is no. Dental fillings are used to treat cavities because a dentist tends to want to remove the decayed part (the cavity) and fill it to stop any further damage from occurring. While there aren’t ways to remove a cavity without using a filling, there are ways almost to reverse the decay.
Do tiny cavities need to be filled?
The good news is that if your cavity is small enough, you probably don’t need to have it filled. Since tooth decay is a slowly-progressing problem, catching cavities in their early stages can save you from needing a filling.
