Blueberry cheesecake, milkshakes, chocolate mousse, banoffee pie, gelato… who can resist them?
Humans are wired to seek out sweet things. Sugary foods set off the rewards centre of your brain, so it’s no wonder we love sweet things so much.
But while the brain may be wired for sweetness, your teeth aren’t!
Diets that are high in sugar are detrimental to your oral health. In particular, they can cause tooth decay – this can lead to cavities and necessitate dental fillings.
Do you feel discomfort when eating cold or hot foods and drinks? Suffering from a toothache? If so, you may need a dental filling from your local dentist in Armadale.
But first, let’s fill you in on dental fillings
Some may think of tooth removal as the number one dental solution for tooth pain. This is not true – our goal as oral health professionals is to preserve your teeth as much as possible!
One of the proven dental procedures we use to achieve that goal is dental filling. Like the name suggests, these seal and protect the teeth against tooth decay, bacteria, and damage.
And in the case of broken or damaged teeth, dental fillings repair the affected tooth, restoring its normal function.
Here’s how it works:
- Your dentist in Armadale checks your teeth for cavities
- If they find any, local anaesthetic is applied
- Decay is removed from your teeth
- If needed, your dentist will shape the space left behind to ready it for filling
- Your dentist applies a resin filling
By filling in your cavity, fillings protect what’s left of your tooth by stopping bacteria from reaching the undamaged parts of your teeth.
On top of that, by physically shielding the sensitive nerves inside, fillings also protect you from toothache.
Long story short, dental fillings is a form of restorative dentistry. We use this procedure to:
- Prevent tooth decay
- Eliminates the need for root canal treatment
- Restore the function of your teeth
Want to learn more about dental fillings? Let us fill you in on some fast facts…
Fact #1: Dental fillings are durable
A lot of people don’t like having their teeth worked on by a dentist.
While we disagree, we also understand where these dental phobias come from. Having someone pick around your mouth can be extremely uncomfortable, after all.
While dental fillings don’t last forever, they do last a long time – 15 years, easily.
Take good care of your teeth and you can easily push them even further!
Fact #2: … but they aren’t invincible!
Do you feel sensitivity coming from one of your teeth? Does it hurt whenever you eat extremely cold or hot food? Has the tooth has been filled before?
If so, your filling may have cracked or loosened.
A cracked or a loose filling is an open opportunity for bacteria and decay to come in and pick up where it left off.
Luckily, these instances are rare. If this is the case, don’t wait – visit an emergency dentist in Armadale right away.
Fact #3: we’ve moved beyond gold
When many of us think of fillings, we think of gold and silver fillings.
While those materials (known as amalgam fillings) may have been the most popular option of our parents’ generation, dentistry has since moved on in leaps and bounds!
Nowadays, fillings are made of composite, ceramic and acrylic resin. Not only is this generally more affordable than gold or silver, but they also blend in seamlessly with the rest of your teeth.
If you wouldn’t know they’re there unless you were looking for them!
Fact #4: You can’t be complacent after dental fillings
As much as advances in technology and materials have “upgraded” the way dental procedures are performed, the simple fact remains: you can’t stop taking care of your teeth.
Good oral hygiene should always come first. Not only does this help avoid tooth decay in other teeth, but it ensures that your fillings continue to do their job for a long time yet.
On top of proper oral health care, that also means scheduling regular trips to the dentist to keep track of how your fillings are holding up.
During these visits, your dentist will also prescribe dental technique and programs you can implement at home to take care of your teeth.
Long story short, much of the wear-and-tear fillings undergo can be detected and treated early if you make a habit of seeing your dentist.
Need a filling? Get in touch with our dentist in Armadale today!
Dental Care Group provides excellence in all aspects of dental care.
Our state-of-the-art dental clinic uses the latest technology and a huge range of dental treatments for you and your family.
With more than 25 years of experience, Dr Zelman Lew and his team cover all types of dental treatments ranging from the first dental appointment and beyond:
- Dental fillings
- Teeth whitening
- Dental implants
- Veneers and crowns
- Toothache
- Broken tooth
- Inflamed gums
Need a dentist in Armadale? Contact Dental Care Group on (03) 9509 1500 or book an appointment today.
