A lot of people have fillings in their back teeth.
But what about in your front ones?
If you feel uneasy whenever you smile, or find yourself avoiding conversation and group photos thanks to issues with your front teeth, we have good news: there are options!
So what do you do? Call a cosmetic dentist in Armadale!
What does a cavity look like on a front tooth?
Plaque and cavity build-up can gradually erode through the tooth enamel, causing discolouration and brown, grey and black spots on your teeth (as well as causing a hole and exposing the sensitive insides).
While your back teeth are the most vulnerable, the front teeth are also vulnerable to cavities and decay, especially without proper oral hygiene practices.
Plaque is made up of a combination of food, saliva and acid, and can be caused by:
- Lack of fluoride
- Not flossing and brushing teeth
- Acid reflux
- Sugary foods and beverages
Children are also most susceptible to these cavities in their front teeth. Just look at the last point, and it’s pretty easy to see why!
Can you get fillings on your front teeth?
Absolutely!
Oftentimes when it comes to treating cavities in your front teeth, your dental clinic in Armadale will start by removing the decayed portion of your teeth – this removes the brown, grey or black portions of teeth affected by cavities.
Once that’s gone, it’s time to replace the missing enamel or cover up decay – that’s where restorative dental procedures such as dental fillings come into the picture.
Instead of using gold or silver like in the old days, modern dental fillings use porcelain, composites and resins that look just like your teeth should.
How long do front teeth fillings last?
There are various types of fillings that dentists usually use for your teeth, depending on your preference and the extent of your tooth decay, as well as how much work your teeth will need – all of this determines what shape your emergency tooth filling takes.
Since it’s your front teeth, you’re probably going to choose a white restoration, as our Dentist in Armadale can provide excellent color matching, especially if it’s the front of your teeth that are decaying.
Not only does this restore how your teeth look, but it also protects the sensitive insides of your teeth.
Dental restorations, particularly porcelain crowns and veneers can last many years. Tooth colored fillings usually made from “composite resin” can also last many years, but can discolor as these years pass. Sometimes, composite resins may need polishing or even replacing to keep them invisible.
Damaged fillings
While it’s rare, dental fillings may also wear out, chip off and crack.
Chewing and grinding your teeth can eventually damage your fillings. That\’s why you need to schedule a regular dental visit to determine your dental fillings’ condition.
Schedule an appointment with your dentist in Armadale, who can evaluate your condition and determine whether or not they’re in need of replacement.
How to take care of tooth fillings
A damaged filling that gets ignored can cause infection and further tooth decay. After the filling procedure, taking care of your teeth – and your new filling – is essential to preventing any bacteria or cavities in the future.
And that requires a little bit of work on your end:
- Practise proper brushing and flossing
- Be aware of any tooth sensitivity and pain days and weeks after the filling is done
- Visit your Armadale/Windsor dental clinic regularly
How to identify and treat front teeth cavities
A restorative dentist in Armadale can help identify the signs of tooth decay before they result in full-blown cavities, helping you protect your teeth and stop brown, grey and black spots from appearing in the first place.
The moment you start experiencing tooth sensitivity, you’ll want to get in touch with an expert.
Root canal treatments
Tooth decay and cavities are a major concern when it comes to your oral health – the only thing worse is if it results in an infection in your dental pulp.
When this happens, you may experience significant pain. It can even result in you losing the tooth altogether.
Oftentimes, the only way to treat this is by removing all the infected pulp before filling the tooth with a dental filling – what we call a root canal procedure. Sometimes, if the tooth is significantly compromised, a dental crown or cap may be required.
In addition to tooth decay, root canals can be required following a dental trauma.
Our emergency dentist in Armadale usually reserves this for cases of severe tooth decay and dental pulp infection, where the damaged nerves are removed before using a dental filling to seal your teeth and protect what’s left.
Crowns and veneers
Fillings aren’t the only treatment our dental experts can offer – depending on your circumstances, we may also be able to treat tooth decay on your front teeth using crowns and veneers:
- Crowns: a “cap” that fits on top of a tooth, completely covering up and protecting it from further decay
- Veneers: thin covers that go on the front of teeth, either individually or an entire row
Depending on the type of damage to your teeth, a cap or crown may be recommended.
For example, if the decay is still only cosmetic in nature and affects the front side of your front teeth, veneers might be the better option.
After thoroughly cleaning the tooth, your dentist might apply a veneer to cover the tooth up and add some extra protection.
In addition to helping out in cases of tooth decay, they’re also useful in other situations.
For example, many people have sensitive teeth. In cases like these, crowns can reduce sensitivity by adding an extra protection.
Another way these can help is in cases of tooth damage. Cracks, chips and other types of dental trauma can result in pain and sensitivity, as well as a higher risk of tooth infection.
By covering them up with crowns or veneers, you’ll be able to save yourself from unnecessary discomfort.
Need dental fillings?
Whether it’s in your front teeth or your back ones, our Armadale dentist can help you!
Dental Care Group provides a range of cosmetic and restorative dental treatments that treat your decayed and damaged teeth. We ensure your teeth look good and function well without any pain!
Visit a dentist in Armadale and explore these restorative dental solutions for your oral health:
- Dental fillings
- Safe Amalgam removal
- Restoring a broken tooth
- Teeth whitening
- Veneers and crowns
- Dental implants
- Hygiene preventive programs
Call our Armadale dentistry experts today on (03) 9509 1500 or book an appointment here.
