Restorative

Restorative

Cavities are caused by plaque on teeth. This plaque is a sticky film made up of food debris and bacteria. As the bacteria digest the food debris, they form an acid which attacks the tooth structure making it soft. If left to progress, the soft or “rotten” spots become larger and deeper eventually destroying the tooth structure. This can cause the teeth to hurt, if the rotten area affects the nerve of the tooth, or it can cause the teeth to break if it destroys too much tooth structure. Avoiding highly refined carbohydrate foods and acidic drinks can help to decrease susceptibility to cavities. Brushing as soon after you eat with a fluoride toothpaste can help as well as flossing once a night.

A cavity, like a rotten spot in a piece of fruit, is removed/cleaned using an electric handpiece (“drill”) with or without freezing (local anaesthetic). The resultant prepared tooth is then filled with a filling material of either composite resin, amalgam, metal or porcelain. With good home care, these fillings can last for many years to come.

Over time though, like a road being used over and over, fillings and the surrounding tooth structure wear and tear. Small openings and cracks are created between the tooth and filling which allow bacteria to enter. This “leakage” can cause recurrent decay to occur. Regular recare (“checkup”) examinations allow the dentist to examine the teeth clinically for signs of wear or recurrent decay and to assess the teeth radiographically. Keep in mind most decay occurs without symptoms so catching it early is important to avoid destroying tooth structure and avoiding pain. Also, regular assessments are most cost-effective over time.

When a filling is very large, “pins” or small metal projections are placed in the tooth structure and surrounded by filling material, to hold the filling material in place.

When a tooth has been endodontically treated or “root canal” treated, a “post” can be placed within the root to help anchor the filling. This is done by removing the top portion of the root filling and cementing a post, some of which protrudes into the tooth providing anchorage for the filling material.  This filling material or “core” later forms the substructure underneath a crown.