Dental Fillings in South Miami
Sometimes getting a dental filling is inevitable. Whether it’s cavities, cracked teeth, or other dental issues, a dental filling is one of the most common procedures for patients.
When do you need a Dental Filling?
Most people are familiar with the most common cause of dental fillings: Cavities.
Cavities are a softening of the hard outer layer of the tooth or the tooth enamel. Over time, the softening can lead to holes in the tooth.
Bacteria and acids in your mouth, interacting with sugar, cause tooth softening. Eventually, the acids can eat down to the nerve, making it painful to eat cold or hot things or give you pain when you bite down.
If left untreated, cavities can destroy the whole tooth.
Aside from cavities, dental fillings in South Miami can solve a host of other oral health issues. Dental fillings procedures treat cracked teeth and teeth that are worn down by grinding or chewing. Filling a tooth can help slow down damage and decay, and give you relief from pain.
However, how can you tell at home if you need a dental filling? Here are a few signs.
1: You feel pain when chewing
Pain is the most obvious sign. If you have pain when you bite down on something hard, or when you eat something very hot or cold, it’s a pretty good sign that you have either a cavity or a cracked or broken tooth!
In this case, you should get to your dentist as soon as you can get an appointment to get a filling and stop the decay before it progresses too far.
2: Visible signs
If you see dark spots on your teeth or feel a jagged edge with your tongue, you might need a filling. Even though you may not feel pain yet, it’s not normal to have those types of spots on your teeth. Another sign is your floss breaking or tearing while you are flossing. If this happens, it probably means there is a cavity between your teeth, and it is catching on the floss.
3: A broken or lost filling
If you find that a previous filling has been broken or lost, then you should consider going into your dentist as soon as possible. If a filling is lost, it means that the area of tooth injury is open again and that it is very easy for plaque and food to get stuck there.
What Kinds of Dental Fillings Are There?
There are a few different kinds of dental fillings that you can choose from, and they fall into three different categories: gold, dental amalgam, and composite resin fillings. They each have their benefits and drawbacks.
Gold fillings are the oldest, having been used for more than 1000 years, but have remained in use due to their durability and strength. They are usually the most expensive kind of filling but can remain without replacement for upwards of 10 years. They are strong enough to stand up to the force of chewing as well.
However, there are some drawbacks. They are a lot more expensive than the other options, first of all, and some people prefer their fillings to be tooth-colored rather than metal-colored.
Second, are amalgam fillings or silver fillings. These fillings are also very durable, with similar durability to the gold fillings and far outlasting the composite fillings. They are also strong enough to withstand chewing, and leaps and bounds cheaper than gold fillings and even some composite fillings.
However, there are a few potential problems. First of all, the silver filling often doesn’t match the natural color of the tooth and can make the tooth look grayish. Second, unlike molded gold or composite fillings, healthy parts of a tooth usually have to be drilled away to make space for an amalgam filling. Third, there is a small percentage of people that have an allergic reaction to some of the mercury in an amalgam filling.
Third, are composite fillings. These are tooth-colored fillings made of composite resin. They are one of the most common fillings on the market today, for their aesthetic appearance and reasonable durability. Composite fillings bond to the tooth structure, which makes them appropriate to repair cracked or worn-down teeth, and usually require less drilling than amalgam fillings. However, these tooth-colored dental fillings have some drawbacks.
First, they don’t last very long — only about five years. Second, they are more prone to chipping or breaking and occasionally require some maintenance. Not to mention that at the outset, they can cost twice as much as your standard amalgam filling, and have to be replaced in half the time.
Where to Get Dental Fillings in South Miami
If you find yourself in pain and in need of a new dental filling in South Miami or the surrounding areas, our team at Dr. Andres de Cardenas’ office is ready to help. Contact us today to make your appointment.