Dental Fillings

Cavities do not form overnight. There is a slow process involved which can be interrupted at just about any point to keep decay from getting worst. It begins when bacteria in the mouth have the opportunity to settle on an area of a tooth and produce acids that eat away at the enamel. This is the hard outer surface of the tooth. Early detection by just looking at the tooth may not reveal a problem at this stage. Once the decay breaks through the enamel it attacks the next layer which is softer. This is called the dentin and decay can spread a lot faster here. If left unchecked eventually the decay will reach the heart of the tooth called the pulp. At this point the problem is very serious.

Regular pediatric dental treatment can prevent tooth decay from getting to the point of attacking the pulp. When the first sign of a cavity is detected, the dentist will clean it out and fill it with a special material to protect the tooth.

Natural and Tooth Colored Fillings

Fillings these days are designed to look like your natural tooth. A special material the color of your child’s tooth and composed of resin with ceramic or glass is put in the cleaned out cavity. Often a special light is used on the material to help in harden. Some cavities are large and require a fair amount of filling material. In this case, the hole will be filled in layers with the light being used at each layer to ensure that the filling material is hard enough.

When the hole is completely filled, the excess is cleaned away and special tools are used to smooth and polish the material. When it is completely finished, you will not be able to tell that your child had a cavity. The tooth will feel and look smooth and polished.

Contact our office today to schedule an appointment with one of our pediatric dentists.