Cavities are one of the most common preventable conditions in both adults and children. We take care of fillings in our Springfield, IL dental office using natural-looking tooth-colored composite.
While a significant reduction in the instances of tooth decay in recent years has helped patients keep their smiles healthy, it is still a common occurrence due to the amount of sugar added to everyday foods.
How Sugar Impacts Oral Health
Bacteria collect on teeth and gums where it is warm and moist. They need fuel to reproduce and the most readily fuel is sugar. The highest quantity of sugar comes from refined sources like candy, soda, ketchup, barbecue sauce, bagels, and breakfast cereals. Starches quickly convert to sugar, especially when they are processed.
Acid softens enamel causing a cavity.
How Dental Fillings Treat Cavities
It is really up to your dentist to treat your cavity. The role of a filling is to seal and protect the tooth. Dr. Ruggless will always make comfort a priority by gently numbing the tooth. Some small cavities that have been caught early may not require anesthetic. We can talk about this at your next dental appointment.
Dr. Ruggless will then remove the decay from your tooth and leave behind the healthy tooth structure. He will apply a bonding agent to the tooth and then match the composite material to your natural tooth, which he will use to fill your tooth.
After hardening the composite with a curing light, he will polish and adjust the filling to fit comfortably with your bite and to shine like a natural tooth.
To learn more about dental fillings treatment in Springfield, IL, give us a call. We welcome new patients and provide gentle care and durable restorations to protect your teeth.
Failure to treat decay allows it to progress and can then infect the nerve of the tooth. This can lead to root canal treatment or extraction. Don’t wait! We are here to help.