Unless you’re very careful or very lucky, chances are that you will need at least one cavity filling over the course of your life. In our experience here at the office of Paul D. Nifong, Jr., DDS, having to get a filling is an intimidating prospect to many people, whether due to inborn anxiety or negative past experiences with dental care. If you are someone who gets nervous about dental appointments, allow us to assure you that we make every effort to make all of our patients’ experiences as calm and comfortable as possible, and to minimize any pain or discomfort. In order to provide motivation to seek out this treatment when you need it, we have put together this article on why cavity fillings are necessary.
- To Prevent Infection- The first major reason why cavity fillings are necessary is because they prevent infection. When a tooth starts to decay, it will continue to do so unless all the decayed tooth material is removed. Not only will unchecked tooth decay ruin the tooth, but it will also cause you a lot of pain, and will likely lead to infection. This infection can spread to other parts of the body and cause significant health problems, so it’s important to prevent it from developing in the first place by having the decayed tooth material removed and the remaining tooth sealed.
- To Prevent More Decay- The other main reason why cavity fillings are necessary is because they help prevent the bacteria causing tooth decay and infection from spreading to the other teeth in your mouth. If you want to keep all of your teeth, you should definitely have them checked regularly for cavities and get any cavities filled as soon as possible.