Don’t Be Afraid of Dental Caps and Fillings

Dental fillings and dental crowns are used to help preserve your teeth. The teeth have natural crevices and grooves that can act as a food trap. Even if we do brush our teeth regularly, we can not always thoroughly remove the trapped food debris. This food debris will be fermented by microorganisms producing acids that will destroy the surface of the tooth. This is how cavities start, which when left unchecked, will spread to the dentin and pulp of the tooth. If the dentin is involved, some discomfort, like sensitivity to sweet food and cold air, will be felt by the patient. As the destruction of tooth tissue continues to the dental pulp, the pain becomes more severe.

The dentist will normally give local anesthesia before removing dental cavities, so don’t be afraid of getting caps and fillings. A topical anesthesia is used to prevent pain from the prick of the needle. After the anesthetic is injected, you won’t feel pain as the dentist starts treatment.

The dentist will  usually do an oral examination before suggesting any treatment. Dental cavities that are not so deep and wide can be cleaned and filled. The dentist will give suggestions on what fillings are best for you. You will be able to choose from amalgam and composite. Gold fillings are also used, but it is not common. If a cavity is deep, a base material is placed before the dental filling to protect the pulp.

Extensive cavities, when cleaned, could cause the remaining tooth to be weak in structure. To protect and preserve the tooth, dental jacket crowns or caps are needed. The remaining tooth structure is prepared and built up. An impression is taken, and is then sent to the dental laboratory for processing. Once the dental crowns are ready, it will be cemented to the tooth. Dental jacket crowns are also used after root canal treatment to protect the tooth. Crowns are  used for aesthetic reasons, such as when tooth staining cannot be removed by bleaching. These are some of the uses of dental fillings and dental jacket crowns.

Don’t be afraid of caps and fillings. Instead, with the help of dental anesthesia, you should see them as a painless solution to common dental problems.