Is It Always Necessary to Fill Cavities with Dental Fillings?
Some people see dental fillings as an expensive and uncomfortable procedure. Because it requires drilling a decayed tooth, people are usually curious about other ways to fill a cavity. Traditionally, a cavity is treated by filling the tooth with material to stop the progress of the decay. However, seeing that dental technology has quickly progressed with time, people are now looking for other ways to treat cavities.
Avoiding dental drilling is usually preferred by many patients because it can be scary and even painful. Fortunately, these days, there are other ways to treat a cavity so a filling is no longer necessary. Read on as we talk about whether or not it is always necessary to fill cavities with dental fillings.
When it comes to the question of whether a dental filling is always needed to treat a cavity, the answer is no. Dental fillings are needed to treat cavities because the dentist usually removes the decayed part and needs to fill it in to stop any further damage from happening. Although there are no ways to remove a cavity without using a filling, there are a few ways that decay can be reversed:
- Fluoride gel. This is a gel treatment placed on a specially designed tray that is then placed in the mouth. The tray is left in the mouth for some time to allow the enamel to absorb the fluoride.
- Fluoride varnish. This is a liquid that the dentist paints onto the teeth. It quickly hardens into a thin layer as the enamel absorbs the fluoride.
- High fluoride toothpaste. You might already be using a toothpaste that contains fluoride, but there are some kinds of toothpaste with a higher fluoride concentration available with a prescription. This kind of toothpaste is prescribed if the decay has already exposed the root. Daily use of this high fluoride toothpaste can prevent further decay from happening.
- Silver diamine fluoride. If tooth decay already advanced to cavity formation, there is another option your dentist can consider aside from filling, especially if the patient is still young. Silver diamine fluoride or SDF is a treatment directly applied to the area of decay to stop it from progressing without having to fill the cavity. With this treatment, the tooth structure will still be compromised and the treated area with turn black. This is why this is best used if the cavity occurs in primary teeth. The aesthetic issue is less of a concern because these teeth will eventually fall out. This inexpensive and quick option is ideal for younger patients who are afraid of the drill.
- Dental sealants. The back teeth are decay targets because they have deep grooves and are put where plaque and food particles can accumulate. Dental sealants give added protection by forming a smooth surface over the back teeth. These are applied over healthy, decay-free teeth, or over areas of early decay to prevent further damage. The dentist will monitor this treated tooth to ensure that the sealant remains intact. This is a quick and pain-free process to give kids extra protection against cavities.
Although dental fillings restore teeth with cavities, they are not always necessary. Aside from being expensive, they can also be scary as they require drilling of the teeth. Knowing a few alternative methods for cavities can help a person who has concerns about getting a filling. If you have any questions about dental filling and its other alternatives, schedule an appointment with a reputable dentist in your area now.
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