Debunking Common Myths About Dental Fillings: Facts You Should Know
Dental fillings are an essential part of dentistry today, used to treat cavities and restore damaged teeth. Filling a cavity can protect your teeth, stop further decay, and protect the impacted tooth. If you’re feeling uneasy about visiting the dentist or getting fillings, understand that tooth decay is one of the most common dental conditions dentists take care of regularly. Due to tooth decay leading to other dental issues, routine check-ups and evaluations with your family dentist are important to help you take care of any cavities and offer preventive measures.
Benefits Of Dental Fillings
Dental fillings are performed to treat a hole or cavity in the tooth. There are many benefits to getting a dental filling:
- Durable and long-lasting
- Act as preventative care to avoid future decay
- Restores and reinforces tooth strength
- Repairs broken or injured teeth
- Improves tooth’s appearance
Despite how effective and beneficial dental fillings are, plenty of misconceptions about fillings can cause people to hesitate when it comes to getting a filling. It is important to understand the procedure, its effectiveness, and the materials used, which can lead to unnecessary worries, even though they are a safe and routine treatment.
Most Common Dental Filling Myths
Hearing stories or myths about fillings can leave you feeling anxious or cautious about considering getting fillings. We’ve gathered some information to bust those myths about dental fillings:
Myth: You Can Always Feel Cavities
This is a myth because there are cases where someone may have cavities but be completely unaware. There are times when an individual may not have any symptoms of a cavity but still needs one. A cavity often starts slowly and gradually, eating and damaging the enamel until it reaches its roots. The symptoms of cavities are only apparent once they infect the pup area or the tips of the tooth’s roots, so taking care of any cavities right away can help avoid any damaging tooth decay or pain later.
Myth: Dental Fillings Are Painful
Getting fillings might be a painful process, but it is not typically a painful procedure. Your dentist usually will offer an anesthetic to numb the area that is being treated. With the area being numbed, you should feel no pain and only subtle pressure. The procedure itself is quick, so any discomfort is temporary. Pain from tooth decay is much worse than getting the cavity filled!
Myth: Dental Fillings Are Forever
While fillings are durable, they are not designed to last forever and should be maintained over time. Depending on how your teeth naturally shift or wear down, a filling can become loose or lose its effectiveness in sealing the cavity that it originally was placed to protect against. The types of foods you eat can also impact your filling, like sticky or hard foods that might pull the filling out or cause it to crack. If a filling falls out, it can make the tooth vulnerable to decay because of the space it leaves behind.
Myth: Fillings Look Obvious
Amalgam fillings do not blend in with the rest of your teeth. These fillings tend to darken teeth over time and weaken them. With modern medical treatments, the white dental composite filling material can help your filling blend in seamlessly and look natural. Composite white filling requires less removal of the tooth structure, especially with new cavities.
Myth: Children Don’t Need Fillings
There is a myth that children do not need fillings because they will eventually lose their teeth anyway. This is untrue and cavities should be treated as soon as possible because they promote tooth decay, leading to serious health issues in the long run. Cavities can cause discomfort and pain, resulting in trouble chewing or biting, impacting a child’s health overall.
Dental Fillings And More With Dr. Muzny
Dental fillings are an effective solution to restore damaged teeth and prevent any further decay. With different materials available, including options that blend in seamlessly with your natural tooth enamel, fillings not only are able to help improve your tooth’s function but also help with the look of your smile. Consulting with your dentist can help you choose the right material for your filling needs and ensure you are correctly taking care of your oral health.
For those in need of treatment in Benders Landing, Woodforest, Spring, North Houston, or the Conroe/Montgomery area, the offices of Carrie Muzny D.D.S. offer comprehensive dental care. We provide a wide range of services like regular cleanings, sealants, screenings, periodontal therapy, cosmetic and restorative services, prevention, sedation dentistry, and oral surgery. Whether you prefer a virtual consultation or an in-person appointment, we are here to meet your needs with flexible appointment options.
Reach out to us today to take a proactive step towards a healthy, confident smile.
