A tooth filling is a type of dental restoration which repairs damage caused by tooth decay and prolongs the life of the tooth. Fillings are a very common dental procedure – as many as 80% of adults end up with at least one filling during their lifetimes, and most people have several. To treat a tooth with dental caries (tooth decay) in this way, a dentist first drills out all the decayed material and cleans the cavity. They then fill the hole in the tooth with one of a number of filling materials.
Once the filling is complete, the tooth can function as normal for many more years.
If left untreated, tooth decay will continue to erode the tooth, leading to cavity pain. An abscess may eventually form somewhere around the tooth, requiring more drastic treatment like root canal work or even an extraction.
You may not relish the idea of having a filling, but it’s really the best way to stop decay in its tracks and preserve the tooth for as long as possible.
Do fillings hurt?
Many people worry about tooth filling pain, but thanks to modern dentistry techniques the procedure is usually pain-free. You may experience some sensitivity after a filling but there are ways to reduce any discomfort.
There was a time when pulling a dying tooth, but nowadays, dentists try to help patients keep their natural teeth for as long as possible. One of the most common dental procedures intended to give a tooth a second chance by treating the inflammation and infection from the inside is the root canal treatment procedure. During a root canal procedure, decay is removed, the inside of the tooth is cleaned and filled, and the outside of the tooth is sealed and capped. Root canal procedures save teeth and the space which would be created if the tooth were to be extracted.
A cracked tooth can result from:
Treatment depends on the size of the crack, where it’s located, your symptoms, and whether the crack extends into the gum line. It may vary from: