26
Feb
How a Composite Filling Restores Your Decayed Tooth
Have you been told that you have a cavity? The bad news is that cavities are irreversible once they form. The good news, however, is that cavities are easily treatable with composite fillings. Instead of metal fillings, Natalie K. Provenzano DDS, Inc. in San Jose, California, uses tooth-colored composite material to treat cavities. A composite filling not only treats the cavity but restores your tooth to look and function optimally.
How cavities form
Plaque —a mixture of saliva, food debris, and harmful bacteria — is the common cause of cavities. Plaque contains harmful bacteria that secrete acidic substances as they feed on starches left in the mouth. With time, the acidic substances erode the enamel, causing small holes called cavities or dental caries.
When left untreated, dental cavities grow deeper and can spread to nearby teeth. When a cavity deepens and widens, it makes your tooth susceptible to cracks, breakage, and chips.
What’s more, the fault lines created by the cavity can allow harmful bacteria to infiltrate the tooth chamber, causing dental infection. An infected tooth can only be restored with a root canal. Otherwise, it requires extraction.
The composite filling procedure: What to expect
Is it your first time to have your tooth treated with a dental filling? Here is a rundown of what to expect.
- Inspecting your tooth to establish whether a filling is sufficient to restore your tooth
- Numbing your tooth with local anesthesia to eliminate discomfort during the procedure
- Removing the decayed/damaged portion of the tooth
- Thoroughly cleaning the tooth to remove all traces of harmful bacteria
- Applying the filling material and shaping as needed
- Using a curing material to harden the filling in seconds
- Checking and adjusting your bite until it feels comfortable and natural
After the procedure, we’ll give you care tips to ensure your filling lasts long. Typically, you should brush and floss your teeth daily. Minimize sugary foods and avoid stain-causing substances like tobacco products, coffee, tea, and red wine. Lastly, wear a mouthguard if you clench or grind your teeth, and visit your dentist every six months for check-ups and cleanings.
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Dr. Or Simel
Dr. Natalie Provenzano has been practicing dentistry since 2002 when she graduated from the University of Southern California Dental School in the class’ top 10. She served on the school’s ethics committee and was a member of the Oral Sedation Team and the National Dental Honor Society, Omicron Kappa Upsilon. She also received the American Association of Women Dentists’ Female Dentist of the Year Award.
Also an alumnus of Loyola Marymount University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BS in Biology, Dr. Provenzano was an active member of Ignatians Service Organization and Delta Gamma Fraternity and was chosen for the Order of Omega and Delta Sigma Nu Honor Societies.
Oral surgeon Dr. Or Simel has been practicing dentistry since 2009. He is a graduate of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Dentistry (DDS), UCSF School of Medicine (MD), Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA, (BS/Biology), and UCSF School of Dentistry (Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery). He graduated Summa Cum Laude and was on the Dean’s List, and National Dental Honor Society, Omicron Kappa Upsilon.
He is a member of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, American Dental Association, and California Dental Association.
Together, they provide exceptional general, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry to patients of all ages in the area.