Most of us end up with at least one cavity at some point in our lives, even if we brush and floss regularly. Luckily, dental fillings, provided by your Findlay, OH, dentist, Dr. Krystal DeClerck of DeClerck Family Dental, offer a simple, effective way to restore decayed teeth.

Dental fillings keep teeth healthy

Without a filling, the decay in your tooth would only get worse. Eventually, it could even spread to nearby teeth. When your Findlay dentist removes the decayed portion of your tooth and replaces it with a filling, you no longer have to worry about the painful and unattractive effects of tooth decay.

Fillings improve your appearance

Today's fillings are virtually unnoticeable, thanks to composite resin, a plastic-and glass-based material that is replacing silver amalgam as the filling material of choice in many cases. Composite resin is tinted to match common tooth shades, ensuring that no one knows that you've had a cavity but you.

Fillings help strengthen teeth

Removing the decayed part of your tooth tends to make it a little weaker and more susceptible to cracking. Luckily, composite resin fillings provide much-needed strength for filled teeth. The material bonds to your tooth, thus increasing strength. Composite resin fillings also require removal of a smaller margin of healthy tooth structure. The more healthy structure that remains, the stronger the tooth.

Have you ever experienced a crack in a filled tooth? The problem may have occurred due to the constant expansion and contraction of silver amalgam when exposed to hot and cold temperatures. Composite resin doesn't expand or contract, which helps you avoid cracks.

Fillings play an important role in the root canal process

Fillings also protect your teeth during the root canal process. Root canals involve removing infected or inflamed pulp and replacing it with a flexible rubber material. Between the first and second root canal appointments, your dentist will add a temporary filling to the tooth. The filling seals off the tooth, for this facilitates healing and reduces the risk of infection while you wait for your permanent filling.

Contact us today!

Does your tooth hurt, or does an existing filling feel a little loose? Call your Findlay, OH, dentist Dr. Krystal DeClerck of DeClerck Family Dental, today at (419) 422-8972 to schedule an appointment.

Could that occasional pain in your tooth be caused by a cavity? Findlay, OH, dentist Dr. Krystal DeClerck of DeClerck Family Dental explains how you can tell you may need dental fillings and discusses treatment options.

Signs you may need a filling

• Pain: Constant or intermittent pain can be a sign of tooth decay. You may also notice pain when you eat or drink sweet, hot or cold foods and beverages. Your toothache may worsen when you chew or press on the tooth. Pain usually doesn't occur when the cavity is small. As tooth decay destroys more and more of your healthy tooth structure, you will eventually experience a toothache.
• Spots or Holes: Take a look at the tooth that hurts. If you see brown spots or holes on the tooth, you may need a filling. White spots on teeth can be signs that your tooth enamel has weakened due to demineralization. Using products that contain fluoride, including toothpaste and mouthwash, can remineralize your weak enamel and prevent a cavity from forming.
• Chips or Cracks: Bacteria can enter your tooth through small openings, such as chips or cracks. If you notice a chip or crack, call our Findlay office to schedule an appointment.

Several filling options are available

If you have a cavity, one or more of these filling choices may be right for you:

• Composite Resin Fillings: These tooth-colored fillings are designed to blend in with your smile. They're made of a flexible plastic-based material that bonds to your tooth and helps strengthen it.
• Porcelain Fillings: Porcelain fillings are very stain resistant and look very much like your tooth enamel. Although these fillings are a good choice aesthetically, they can be expensive.
• Glass Ionomer Fillings: These fillings are often used to fill cavities in your front teeth or tooth roots. Once the glass ionomer filling is in place, it gradually releases fluoride to help you avoid future cavities.

Do you have a toothache? Call Findlay, OH, dentist Dr. Krystal DeClerck of DeClerck Family Dental at (419) 422-8972 to schedule an appointment.

Find out just how long dental fillings last and what you can do to prolong their life.

While we all wish that dental restorations lasted forever, unfortunately this isn’t the case. Dental fillings are a common restoration that is used to restore a tooth that has had a cavity. Perhaps you’ve just recently had a tooth filled or you’ve had one filled in the past, but one popular question that our Findlay, OH dentist, Dr. Krystal DeClerck, gets a lot is, “How long will my dental filling last?”

While we can never provide you with a definitive answer on how long your particular dental filling will last, we can tell you that a filling is not designed to last forever. Plus, there are several factors that may prolong or reduce the life of your filling.

The type of material used to create your filling will play a small part in the longevity of your restoration. While tooth-colored (composite) fillings can last for several years, amalgam (metal) fillings usually last about 12 years, on average. Amalgam fillings tend to last longer than composite fillings because the material is more durable and better at resisting damage from repeated jaw pressure and chewing forces over the long term.

Of course, maintaining good oral health is a major part of keeping your fillings and mouth healthy. Besides keeping up with your at-home oral care routine (make sure you are flossing daily and brushing at least twice a day), you should be visiting our Findlay general dentist for routine visits. During these visits, we can examine your fillings to make sure that they are still healthy and intact.

Fillings can also become damaged. If you notice that a filled tooth has suddenly become sensitive to hot or cold, or if you can see a visible crack in the filling, it’s time to make an appointment with us. And when it comes to caring for your smile at home, using fluoridated toothpastes and rinses can help prevent cavities in the future and help strengthen your tooth’s enamel so that your filling lasts as long as possible.

Turn to DeClerck Family Dental in Findlay, OH for all of your dental needs. Whether you just need to schedule your six-month cleaning or you want to discuss your smile makeover options, we are here for you.