Restorative Dentistry
What to do when there is a cavity?
Dental caries, which is also referred to as tooth decay or cavities, is one of the most common and widespread persistent diseases today. A dental cavity occurs when there is a breakdown of tooth structure by acids produced bybacteria in the presence of food that gets stuck in your teeth. The dental cavity may start with a mild sensitivity to sweets and slowly progresses as food lodgment and later manifest as pain. Depending on the severity of and extent the decay, treatment may be planned. The tooth has three different layers with different compositions and the extent of the cavity into the layers of the teeth determines the treatment option.
Any cavity confined to the outermost layer – enamel and the middle layer can berestored with a restoration otherwise called as a filling. In this process, we remove thecavity with a high-speed drill and fill them with a tooth-colored material. In some cases when the filling is quite deep, we may prefer to place a protective base and then layer them with a restorative cement.
Post-operative instructions after dental filling
- Avoid drinking water/eating food for 30 mins after a dental filling for the cement to set
- Sensitivity is usually most noticeable in the first 12-24 hours.
- Sensitivity, especially to cold, is common for a few days following a dental filling. Usually the deeper the cavity, the more sensitive the tooth may be.
- Fillings do not last forever. It may wear and breakdown. Hence regular checkups are mandatory
- Proper brushing and flossing are recommended to help you retain your fillings
- Having your teeth cleaned every six months and an annual Xray will help prolong the life of your fillings
- The finished restoration may be contoured slightly different and have a different texture than the original tooth. Your tongue usually magnifies this small difference, but you will become accustomed to this in a few days.
- If after a week or two, your teeth feel like they do not touch correctly please call the clinic. This problem can be solved with a quick adjustment to the filling.
- Visit the Dentist every 6 months once.
