Fillings
Fillings are the most
popular and one of the most effective treatments for dental
caries - what most people refer to as a cavity or tooth decay.
Interestingly, tooth decay is the second most common health problem after the common cold. By some estimates, more than 90 percent of people in the United States have at least one cavity; about 75 percent of people get their first cavity by the age of five.
Anyone can get tooth decay. However, children
and the elderly are
the two groups at highest risk. Other high-risk groups include people
who eat a lot of starch and sugary foods; people who live in areas
without fluoridated water (water with fluoride added to it); and people
who already have other tooth problems.
Tooth decay occurs when three factors are present: bacteria, sugar, and a weak tooth surface. The sugar often comes from sweet foods such as sugar or honey. But it can also come from starchy foods such as bread and rice. When a starch breaks down in the mouth, it forms sugar. Bacteria that live on the surface of a tooth eat sugar. When they do so they change the sugar into an acid called lactic acid.
Healthy tooth enamel may be able to resist this acid. But tooth
enamel often has tiny holes and weak spots. 
Lactic
acid can soak into
these holes and dissolve the minerals of which enamel is made. Over
time, the hole may get larger and larger. If the hole penetrates into
the next tooth layer, called the dentin, the tooth becomes sensitive to
touch and temperature. Decay can even penetrate to the center of the
tooth, the pulp. In that case, the inner tooth may become inflamed and
begin to ache.
Tooth decay is usually treated with a filling. The dentist first removes all of the decayed material with a drill. The opening is then filled with one of many long-lasting materials.
There are generally three methods employed to replace the tooth
structure that was destroyed by decay. The two most common
materials are mercury
amalgam
(pronounced uh-MAL-gum) 
and composite
resin. A mercury amalgam consists
of a mixture of metals that is strong,
may be formed to fit the opening
precisely and is resistant to wear. Amalgam fillings are in expensive
and can last for many years, provided good oral hygiene is observed.
The second, a composite resin is a sturdy, acrylic material that bonds very tightly and blends with the natural color of the tooth.
Composite fillings provide many of the wear
characteristics of the original enamel and are
generally preferred by
patients for their natural appearance.
A third option, generally reserved for large restorations -- those in which a large portion of the surface enamel has been lost -- are porcelain and metallic onlays and crown, which are discussed in the "Crowns and On Lays" section of this site (see Treatment Menu).
Regardless of the treatment option, however, it is necessary that the decay be discovered, removed and the destroyed enamel replaced as early as possible. Left unchecked, the decay will continue to work toward and then into the pulp of the tooth. When decay reaches the pulp, it is no longer possible to simply replace the enamel. In that case, a root canal procedure may need to be performed in which the entire pulp of the tooth tooth is removed. In extreme cases, the tooth may need to be removed.
Please feel free to discuss any questions you may have regarding the content in our website with either Dr. Hopper or Dr. Mills. Either will be more than happy to address any questions or concerns you may have.
You may reach the clinic at 605-578-3810 or 800-641-2035,
or
email us at:
deadwooddental@mato.com