Keeping your smile consistently healthy isn’t complicated when you stick to an excellent hygiene routine and a regular schedule of preventive visits. However, it doesn’t take a lot for tooth decay to develop in a tooth, leading to a cavity that can grow larger the longer it’s left untreated. For many patients in El Paso, TX, the best way to fill a cavity is with customized, tooth-colored composite resin. The tooth-colored filling blends in with your tooth’s appearance, and can also bond to your tooth more securely to create a more effective barrier against future tooth decay.
What a cavity means for your tooth
The cavity that forms in your tooth is the result of decay destroying your tooth’s structure. The decay is the result of harmful oral bacteria infecting your tooth structure, and as the infection grows, so does the cavity. The only way to stop this process is for your dentist to carefully remove the bacteria and infected tooth structure from within the cavity. Then, the cavity can be filled, preferably with tooth-colored composite resin.
What your filling needs to do
By replacing the tooth structure that was lost due to the decay, a tooth filling strengthens the tooth and fortifies it against your bite pressure. To be effective, the filling must conform precisely to the shape of the cavity and bond securely to its structure. However, a tooth-colored filling also serves as protection for the exposed portion of the tooth against harmful bacteria in the future. This reduces your risks of needing more extensive treatment later, such as root canal therapy or tooth extraction and replacement.
Find the best filling for your cavity
Besides their ability to blend in with your healthy, natural teeth, tooth-colored fillings can also offer better long-term protection for your tooth. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling the Sunny Smiles dental office nearest you in El Paso, TX, today! We have offices in the East, Northeast, and Westside of El Paso, and happily welcome patients from all nearby communities, including Chaparral, Canutillo, Vinton, and Sunland Park, New Mexico.