Braces as an adult? No way. At least, that was what I thought when my dentist told me that I was going to have to see an orthodontist about my crooked teeth. But my teeth were so misaligned that they were causing me pain when I chewed, so I decided to at least look into it. Turns out braces today are nothing like the ones my friends had when I was a kid. Mine were practically invisible, and I didn't need to wear them that long. I started this blog to encourage other people like me who are nervous about the prospect of wearing braces as an adult. My straight smile is so worth the trips to the orthodontist, and wearing braces was nowhere near as bad as I thought. Read on to find out more about how you can straighten your smile.
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Cavities are extremely common. In fact, they are one of the world's most common health issues. Since dental decay is so common, then you can also expect fillings to be everyday procedures. The good news is that you are likely to retain healthy teeth and few issues after the cavity is removed. However, like any other medical procedure, complications can happen. Keep reading to learn about a few of them.
Poor Filling Adhesion And Crack Formation
Dentists complete a variety of steps to remove cavities and fill them in with either a silver amalgam or resin composite material. A drill is used to remove the decay, the microorganisms that lie within the cavity, and a small bit of healthy tooth material. The tooth is cleaned, rinsed, and dried afterward. A special fluid called an etching solution is then spread on the exposed tooth dentin.
Etching solutions are acid-based compounds that dissolve the tooth's minerals around where the cavity was removed. This creates a rough surface so the filling material has an easier time sticking to the tooth.
Once the tooth is etched, your dentist will immediately start using silver or resin to create the filling. If saliva, water, or any other contaminants come into contact with the tooth before the filling can be placed and cured, a small opening may form between the filling and the tooth. The opening, which is usually a hairline crack, can leave the dentin exposed to the environment. In other words, the filling does not adhere properly.
If there is a space between the tooth and the filling, you are likely to feel some pain, especially when you eat hot and cold foods. However, dental fillings can be sensitive for up to about two weeks after your treatment is completed. Wait two weeks to see if the pain subsides and then speak with your dentist. The fillings can fall out if it is not bonded properly, so it is best to have it replaced before this happens. Additionally, if not treated properly, the exposed dentin can decay further.
Dental Infections
On average, the tooth enamel is about 2.5 millimeters thick. The dentin underneath the enamel is slightly thinner, and the tooth pulp sits just beneath both of these hard layers of tooth material. Unfortunately, most cavities occur in the pits or fissures of the teeth, where they are hard to locate. So, you may not see a cavity before it grows quite large. If the decay sits close to the tooth's pulp chamber, then careful drilling will be necessary.
Sometimes, the dental drill may puncture the pulp chamber or force decay into the space, and an infection can develop.
If the pulp chamber is punctured or disturbed, it can take weeks or months before an infection fully develops. In the meantime, you may notice sharp intermittent pain coming from your tooth. Throbbing sensations, increased sensitivity when lying down, and facial soreness are all signs of an abscess.
Large internal tooth abscesses can often be located on x-ray imagery. However, if the infection is just beginning, the abscess may be too small to see on the imagery. In this situation, different sensitivity tests may be completed. For example, percussion, air sensitivity, biting pressure, and thermal sensitivity tests may all be performed.
If you are having pain issues weeks to months after a filling treatment, ask your dentist to test for an infection. Root canals are often necessary to treat infections, but they are best performed before the infection has a chance to spread. When an infection spreads, fistulas, soft tissues abscesses, and even blood infections can develop.
If you want to know more about fillings, the possible complications that can occur, and how you can avoid potential problems after a filling treatment, speak with your local dental professional at offices like Tijeras Dental Service.
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