Categories: Composite Fillings

Is a Dental Filling Always Required for Cavities?

To some people, dental fillings can be considered costly and uncomfortable. Because filling a cavity requires drilling the decayed tooth, people are often curious about what other ways a cavity can be treated.

Traditionally, a cavity is treated by filling the tooth with a medically safe material to stop the decay from furthering. However, as dental technology has progressed with time, people have been studying other ways to treat cavities.

Avoiding dental drilling is commonly preferred by most people because it can be painful and scary. Nowadays, there are other ways to treat a cavity so that a filling isn’t always required. Today, we will go over whether or not a dental filling is always necessary to treat a cavity.

Is a dental filling always required to treat a cavity?

In short, the answer is no. Dental fillings are used to treat cavities because a dentist tends to want to remove the decayed part (the cavity) and fill it to stop any further damage from occurring. While there aren’t ways to remove a cavity without using a filling, there are ways almost to reverse the decay. Read more below as we address reversal ways of decay.

Fluoride treatment

When a cavity is in its early stages, fluoride can often put the decay at a halt as well as reverse how bad the decay may be. The fluoride agents restore tooth enamel and ensure that it is strong and durable.

Fluoride treatments can be given in a dentist’s office, or toothpaste and mouthwashes that contain high amounts of fluoride can be purchased for daily use.

Sealants

Dental sealants are usually applied to teeth to protect against cavities from forming. It is a clear, plastic coat application that does exactly what it sounds like — seals the tooth. They are typically applied to molars because molars need extra protection since they chew and grind food.

Dental sealants may be applied to a tooth that has decay forming, and it will put the decay to a halt as well as reverse the current decay. This is most commonly effective for a decaying tooth only when the decay is in its early stages.

Conclusion

While dental fillings provide a person with a restored tooth, they may not always be necessary. They can be expensive and scary to have done because it requires drilling of the tooth. Knowing what alternative treatment methods there are for cavities can help a person who is concerned about having a dental filling done.

If you have questions about dental fillings and whether or not they are necessary, reach out to our office today. Our trained staff can help answer any questions or address any concerns that you might have. Give us a call today!

Request an appointment here: https://www.davidbakerdds.com or call David L. Baker DDS PA at (972) 612-3920 for an appointment in our Plano office.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Composite Fillings.


Related Posts

April 1, 2021

3 Ways That a Dental Filling Can Improve Your Oral Health

Thinking that dental fillings are a dental treatment that simply treats a tooth that has some level of decay? Dental fillings not only help save a tooth that is in jeopardy of …

April 15, 2020

Can Cosmetic Dentistry Improve My Smile?

Thinking about choosing cosmetic dentistry in order to improve your smile? According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, cosmetic dentistry is the dental specialty that is aimed at creating a positive change to your …

July 20, 2020

Fixing Weak Teeth with Cosmetic Dentistry

Weak teeth can create a lot of oral problems, which is why it is a good idea to consider cosmetic dentistry. While most people believe that cosmetic dentistry only focuses on the appearance of the …

January 30, 2020

What Issues Can Cosmetic Dentistry Fix?

There are countless adult dental patients that request cosmetic dentistry treatments to fix various issues in the smile. Small cracks and big adjustments can all be accomplished with one of the many cosmetic dentistry procedures …

David L. Baker DDS

Share
Published by
David L. Baker DDS

Recent Posts

3 Ways That a Dental Filling Can Improve Your Oral Health

Thinking that dental fillings are a dental treatment that simply treats a tooth that has…

4 years ago

Replace or Repair Broken Dentures?

Learning more about replacing or repairing dentures is your next step when you have broken…

4 years ago

What To Expect at Your Dental Check-up

Regular dental check-ups are a vital part of maintaining and protecting oral health. These visits…

4 years ago

Dental Treatment Options for a Cracked Tooth

Since every tooth plays an important role, saving a cracked tooth is essential to a…

4 years ago

What is a Dental Crown?

Dental crowns are a popular restoration option used by general dentists. Restorations are often needed…

4 years ago

How to Avoid Broken Dentures

If you have missing teeth, dentures can replace them. Your dentures can give you a…

4 years ago