Is a Dental Filling Always Required for Cavities?

Dental fillings can be costly and uncomfortable for many people. Because filling a cavity requires drilling the decayed tooth, people are often curious about what other ways a cavity can be treated.

Traditionally, a cavity was treated by filling the tooth with a medically safe material to stop the decay from furthering. However, as dental technology has progressed with time, people have been studying other ways to treat cavities.

Avoiding dental drilling is commonly preferred by most people because it can be painful and scary. Nowadays, there are other ways to treat a cavity so that a filling isn’t always required. Today, we will go over whether or not a dental filling is always required to treat a cavity.

Is a dental filling always required to treat a cavity?

In short, the answer is no. Dental fillings are used to treat cavities because a dentist tends to want to remove the decayed part (the cavity) and fill it to stop any further damage from occurring. While there aren’t ways to remove a cavity without a filling, there are ways to almost reverse the decay. Read more below as we address reversal ways of decay.

Fluoride treatment

When a cavity is in its early stages, fluoride can often put the decay at a halt as well as reverse how bad the decay may actually be. The fluoride agents restore tooth enamel and ensure that it is strong and durable.

Fluoride treatments can be given in a dentist’s office or a person can purchase kinds of toothpaste and mouthwashes that contain high amounts of fluoride.

Sealants

Dental sealants are usually applied to teeth to protect against cavities from forming. It is a clear plastic coat application that does exactly what it sounds like - seals the tooth. They are typically applied to molars because molars need extra protection since they chew and grind the teeth.

Dental sealants may be applied to a tooth that has decay forming and it will put the decay to a halt as well as reverse the current decay. This is most commonly productive for the decayed too only when the decay is in its early stages.

Conclusion

While dental fillings do provide a person with a restored tooth, they may not always be necessary. They can be expensive and scary to have done because it requires drilling of the tooth. Knowing what alternative methods of treatment are for cavities can help a person who is concerned about having a dental filling done.

If you have questions about dental fillings and whether or not they are necessary hen reach out to our office today. We have a trained staff who can help answer any questions or address any concerns that you might have. Give us a call or stop in today!

Request an appointment here: https://www.sexton-dental.com or call Sexton Dental at (740) 363-2080 for an appointment in our Delaware office.