Fillings

Cavities are the biggest enemies of teeth. At University Family Dental Studio in Berrien Springs, Michigan, we have all the experience and tools to combat cavities from prevention to treatment.

A cavity is the is formed when the enamel of a tooth begins to decay. The damage to the enamel causes a defect that will continue to spread if nothing is done to repair it. A cavity should be treated as soon as possible. If allowed to remain on the tooth, the repair becomes a bigger procedure. If left for too long, the decay can tunnel further into the tooth and allow infection to develop.

The term “filling” is the process of filling the cavity as well as the substance used to fill the cavity. Different materials make up fillings. The material a patient chooses will depend on the amount of damage to the tooth and the location of the filling in the mouth. Silver amalgam is used mainly on back teeth where it is not as visible. Porcelain or composite resin fillings are used where the repair would be more noticeable and can be color-matched to the tooth.

The procedure itself is simple and virtually painless. An anesthetic is used, and the patient is allowed to return to their normal daily activities afterward.