Dental fillings are common dental treatments that restore damaged teeth caused by decay or trauma. They prevent further decay and protect your teeth from more damage. Also, they can improve the look of your teeth by filling cracks and gaps. Typically, a general dentist Scottsdale, AZ recommends dental fillings for minor cavities that have not reached the innermost part of the teeth. Dental fillings are usually made of composite resin, amalgam, or porcelain. To ensure your fillings last, practice oral hygiene and visit your dentist regularly for check-ups. But how do you know you need a dental filling? Keep reading to learn the answer to this question:

Determining Whether You Need a Dental Filling

To determine if you need a filling, your dentist will evaluate the seriousness of tooth decay and your pain symptoms. They perform visual assessments and X-rays to make this determination. During a visual examination, they will look for signs of dental cavities or enamel damage like discoloration or cracks. Also, they check your mouth for plaque buildup, which indicates the decay has started underneath your gum line. Dental X-rays confirm the decay’s extent and location. Moreover, your dentist will consider pain symptoms to determine the need for a filling. These symptoms include sensitivity when consuming anything sweet, pain when consuming hot or cold drinks, and a dull, throbbing pain that gets worse over time. 

Risks of Not Getting Necessary Dental Fillings

Getting a filling may not be an appealing prospect; however, remember that waiting to get a filling can lead to more severe issues in the long run. The following are the possible health risks related to not getting a dental filling when necessary:

• Further tooth damage. When big cavities are not treated promptly, they can get larger and lead to damage to adjacent teeth. Tooth decay is progressive and can spread to neighboring teeth when left unchecked. When this happens, you may need multiple dental filings. 
• Overall oral health issues. Tooth pain can make it hard to think and function as you feel constant throbbing aches. Also, an untreated cavity can result in infection. When this happens, you may need a root canal treatment or suffer tooth loss. In fact, you may need expensive tooth replacement procedures like dental implants. 
• Tooth sensitivity. An untreated dental cavity can grow deeper and cause more damage. Once the infection reaches the tooth’s nerves, pain and sensitivity to temperatures happen. 
• Tooth abscess. If the infection spreads to surrounding tissue, a painful abscess develops. This abscess features a pocket full of pus and other fluids. 
• Bad breath. Persistent bad breath results from the buildup of food particles and bacteria in your mouth and oral cavities. Not getting a filling can cause bad breath. 
• Gum disease. A bacterial infection can reach your gum line and cause periodontal disease. This disease can cause oral complications such as bleeding, inflammation, and tooth loss. 
• Systemic health problems. Diabetes, stroke, and heart disease can develop when bacteria in your mouth reach your bloodstream. 

How a Dentist Fixes a Filling

Dental fillings are fixed in various ways. Your dentist may get rid of the decayed material from your tooth, clean the tooth, and put in a filling. Usually, the air-abrasion technique is used to get rid of decay and clean the surface of the tooth. To complete this process, your dentist will use an ultrasonic scaler or handpiece. Then, they will cover the tooth with a filling. 

Composite cavity fillings are applied in layers to achieve the desired shape. Porcelain and gold fillings need two dental visits to be fixed since they should be made at a dental laboratory. Your dentist can walk you through all your options in terms of fillings and their pros and cons.