Miami Dental Fillings by Ultra Smile
When it comes to caring for your teeth and mouth, preventative care and identifying problems early on is vital to keeping your oral health at its best. Tooth decay and damage, is, of course, the arch nemesis of a healthy mouth and it’s important to know if it’s present or not so your dentist can take care of it quickly. If it turns out you do have tooth decay or damage, a composite dental filling will most likely be in order.
What is a Composite Dental Filling?
A composite or tooth colored filling is what dentists use to repair teeth that have been damaged by decay, have cracks or fractures. The decay is removed from the tooth and the leftover space is filled with the composite filling. Modern dentists most commonly choose composite fillings nowadays because of how well they match the color of natural teeth – a very important trait, particularly in the front teeth and any of the most visible areas.
Signs You Might Need a Dental Filling
If you’re in the habit of seeing your dentist regularly for teeth cleanings and checkups, they will most likely tell you when there’s decay that needs repair. But in between appointments, you may notice a few telltale signs that are indicators of needing a filling or two. Some of these include:
- A broken or chipped tooth
- A hole in your teeth you can either feel or see
- A dark spot in your teeth
- Appearance of craze lines, or vertical cracks in the tooth’s enamel that can be caused by continuous clenching, grinding or biting nails.
- A visible fracture
- Toothaches, sudden throbbing pains when biting or chewing or a sudden sensitivity to hot and cold foods
- Your floss keeps breaking in the same spots in your teeth – this is a sign there is a crack or chipped tooth that needs attention
Composite dental fillings are also sometimes used to close the space between teeth or to repair teeth that have been worn down over time. Dental fillings are also not permanent; while they are durable and last for years, they may need to be replaced over time.
Tooth decay, left unchecked, can turn into much worse problems down the road such as infections, abscesses and other complications. Having a dental filling done at the appropriate time can help you avoid more painful and costly procedures in the future such as root canals. Dr. Bahmadi of Ultra Smile Dentistry and Ultra Smile Dentaspa in Miami offers composite dental fillings along with an array of dental services, including free teeth whitening for new patients who purchase an exam or a cleaning. If you have any questions or concerns about composite dental fillings or suspect you might need one or more than one yourself, stop by Dr. Bahmadi’s offices in Downtown Miami and most recently opened, her office in Midtown Miami.