Written By Kassandra Foreman / Reviewed By Ray Spotts

The most common reason for a dental filling is a cavity in the tooth. A cavity forms when the enamel of the tooth is worn away and a hole is created, leaving the inner parts of the tooth exposed.

Other times a dental filling might be used is when a tooth is chipped or broken, which can occur not only through enamel deterioration but also from trauma including grinding or clenching of the teeth. The filling material can also be used to cover weakened teeth as needed, in the form of a crown or veneer, to add strength to the teeth and protect the enamel from wearing away.

Worn enamel and dental fillings

As the enamel in a tooth wears down it can be eaten away completely and then a cavity forms. Cavities are holes that appear in the enamel and leave the inner layers of the tooth exposed to the environment.

This can cause pain and weakens the tooth, leaving it susceptible to breaking. It may even require an extraction if the cavity is allowed to get big enough or the tooth breaks in ways that cannot be repaired.

When a small cavity forms it is important to have it cleaned and filled to restore a barrier between the environment and the inner tooth and revive the strength of the tooth that is lost due to the cavity.

Broken teeth and dental fillings

If a cavity grows, or if there is trauma suffered by the tooth, it may break either by losing a small chip or a larger break that can expose the inner tooth. Trauma is most often obtained through sports, or by grinding or clenching of the teeth that weaken them and create breakage.

A small chip can often be repaired with a filling material, as a cavity is repaired, and shaped to look as the tooth did before and return the correct bite alignment. To have the correct alignment for eating, chewing and biting, it is important to avoid further damage as the pressure is not equal with an incorrect meeting of the teeth.

Dental fillings are also used after a root canal to seal the tooth and protect it from food particles getting inside the tooth and eating it away from within. This filling will restore some strength to the tooth but it more likely will become damaged or broken without the strength provided by the root system and nerves within.

Rebuild damaged tooth with dental fillings

Dental fillings are used to repair the teeth when they require a root canal, when they are damaged thorough trauma, broken, or when a cavity has formed. The filing is created with metal amalgam or with a porcelain mixture to resemble the teeth around it.

It is installed under local anesthesia to repair the tooth and seal it against the environment. It is important to rebuild the strength of a damaged tooth to avoid tooth loss through increased damage, and to attempt to avoid the need for fillings when possible because a tooth that has been repaired will not return to its original strength.  

Looking for a 100% all-natural liquid tooth oil and mouth rinse? Check out OraMD Original Strength and OraMD Extra Strength. Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral care, skincare, body care and foot care. If you are looking for more health resources check out the Trusted Health Resources list. 

Written By:

Kassandra Foreman has been writing freelance for five years now and enjoys learning about new things to write about. When not writing she teaches yoga and meditation with a focus on health and fitness.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.

Image by JOSEPH SHOHMELIAN from Pixabay