Years ago, dentists would adopt a "patch up" philosophy when installing fillings to teeth that had developed cavities. This was due to the general level of understanding and the specific materials available for the purpose. Now, however, the industry has a much clearer understanding of how the teeth actually accept any repairs such as this and they have more appropriate materials too. What have they learned and how is this better for you?
Disadvantages of the Old Method
Dentists now understand that they can do a lot more than simply fill a hole in your tooth. They understand how the internal structure of the touth works and know how it must be specifically rebuilt following any damage. Previously, they would simply use an amalgam, with the distinctive silver colour, to create fillings that needed to be particularly strong, especially in the back teeth. They needed to be made from stiffer materials so that they wouldn't break down during chewing and grinding. The disadvantage here, however, was that this could lead to cracks in the remaining part of the tooth that had not been restored.
How Does The New Approach Work?
The new approach involves materials and techniques that blend with the make-up of the natural tooth. This requires the dentist to successfully bond the new composite resins to the enamel and the dentin of the tooth. The raw surface is first prepared, before being sealed with a resin coating. Additional layers of composite are then added and rebuilt so that they look exactly like the original tooth structure.
Mimicking Nature
It is now known that the crowns on the back teeth actually flex when under significant pressure from biting and the restorative materials used are able to do so as well, once they are correctly installed. They've been developed over time so that they naturally fuse with the host material in the tooth. The restoration will be both stable and strong, and able to match the normal behaviour of the teeth all around it. There is also an additional advantage, in that these teeth look just the same as the originals. No longer do you have to deal with those obtrusive silver amalgams, which would really stand out when you laughed.
Getting Help With Your Cavities
When you understand how advanced dentistry has become today, you have no excuse to delay your visit to get those fillings done as soon as possible.
