While no one wants to hear it is time for a filling, it will probably be something you will have to deal with a few times in life. Any time you come in for a regular general dentistry appointment in Waco, we will look for cavities that need to be filled. Here is what you need to know about dental fillings:
What a Filling Does
When sugar and bacteria combine in our mouths, they form a super-powered acid that eats through teeth. This is how you get cavities: from the duo of sugar and bacteria having a snack on your molars. When a cavity occurs, it could become worse if it is not treated.
In order to treat a cavity, your dentist in Waco will first remove all the infected parts of the tooth. Then a filling is applied to not only keep bacteria from growing again in that area, but also to help you regain some chewing ability.
Amalgam Free Fillings
Did you get any of the silver fillings as a kid? Those were called amalgam fillings, because they contained a metal called amalgam, which was partly made up of mercury. Today we try to steer clear of those fillings, so we have an amalgam-free filling that we can use instead. They tend to stay in place better, and can be created to look the way you want.
In fact, tooth-colored metal fillings are the most popular type of filling right now, because everyone wants to have a seamless smile with no visible work done. Composite fillings are made of resin, but are another type of tooth-colored filling.
Learn More About Fillings from Your Dentist in Waco
Unless you are ready to lead a sugar-free lifestyle, you will probably have a least a few cavities every few years. If you want to know more, contact us in Waco at 254-776-4888, or on our contact page.