What Many People Don’t Know About Dental Fillings

Do you have any cavities repaired by fillings? Did you know that metal fillings can contain harmful materials or that fillings can fall out? Call our Burke, VA dental office today at 703-978-5253. Our dentists are highly trained and can help place or even replace dental fillings.

What You May Not Know About Fillings & Cavities

Cavities are the most common dental problem. Yet for something so common, there’s a lot people don’t know about cavities and dental fillings. Here are some facts about both that you might not know.

Dental fillings won’t work if the cavity grew too large

The whole point of fillings is to repair cavities. However, fillings need some undamaged enamel to bond with. Otherwise, they can fall right out. Cavities don’t stop growing until a dentist can treat them. That means your cavity can grow too big for a filling. There’s just not enough undamaged enamel for the filling to bond with.

That’s why you need to call our Burke, VA dental office today. Cavities often do not hurt. They can grow too big for a filling without you realizing you even have one. Dr. Fox and our team have been treating cavities for years. If the cavity is big, you can still repair the damage with a dental crown.

Fillings are not designed to last forever

Even if your cavity was caught in time, your dental filling can fall out. That’s because nothing lasts forever. The bonding agent keeping the filling in your cavity can weaken and start to wear out over time. In other words, any old fillings you have can come out eventually.

By calling us today at 703-978-5253, you can replace your old cavity with a new one. Because our dentists are highly trained in using dental fillings, they can repair old cavities or treat new ones just as well.

Fluoride helps your teeth, but too much can damage them

Fluoride is in tap water and toothpaste. That’s because it’s amazing stuff. It strengthens your enamel and can even repair microscopic damage to your teeth. You can always have too much of a good thing, unfortunately. Too much fluoride can give your teeth small craters and intrinsic stains.

Because our dentists understand the benefits and drawbacks of fluoride, they know how to use it effectively. Call us today for your next appointment. Fluoride can help prevent cavities and the need for fillings, but only if used properly.

An untreated cavity can lead to needing a root canal

Cavities keep growing because the bacteria behind them don’t stop. Eventually, that out-of-control cavity can break through to the inside of your tooth. That’s where your nerve endings are, so this is often very painful. Worse, the bacteria can slip in there and infect your dental pulp. When this happens, only a root canal can remove the infection.

Call us today at 703-978-5253 to make an appointment for a dental exam. If Dr. Fox catches the cavity early enough, you can avoid needing a root canal. Instead, you can get a filling and get on with your life.

You can get tooth-colored resin fillings instead of metal

Many years ago, metal fillings were the standard cavity treatment. However, no one wants silvery metal in their mouth. It stands out in a bad way, even if it repaired the damage.

At Fox Family Dentistry, we are committed to providing metal-free restorative dentistry whenever possible. Dr. Fox knows that metal fillings can contain harmful materials like mercury. That’s why you will get a composite resin filling instead. Dr. Fox knows how to color these to match your teeth, so it will be very hard to see in your smile.

The bacteria that make fillings necessary can also make lasers necessary

Those bacteria can do more than just cause cavities. They can cause periodontal disease. In this condition, your gum tissues are either damaged or infected by harmful bacteria. This can make your gums bleed or your teeth fall out.

Thankfully, Dr. Fox is a member of the Academy of Laser Dentistry and the World Clinical Laser Institute. He has the training needed to use a dental laser that safely removed infected gum tissue while leaving the healthy tissue untouched. That’s why getting dental exams from our Burke, VA dental office is important.

Call us today at 703-978-5253 and schedule your next appointment with Dr. Fox. Our dental team wants you to have healthy teeth and gums. Dr. Fox can help you with that, but not until you call.