The most common reason why people end up at a dentist’s office is the dental cavity. A dental cavity is a hole or loss of tooth structure due to the destruction of enamel and dentin by bacterial enzymes. It is a multifactorial disease and very difficult to identify the cause. Hence it is difficult to predict the exact reason for having dental cavities. But it can always be prevented by taking a few measures. In this article, let’s explore various treatment options for dental caries. What Are Dental Cavities? Dental caries occurs due to 4 factors: ● Host factors ● Bacterial factors ● Food ● Time Host factors are patients’ oral hygiene maintenance. Bacterial factors are the enzymes released by bacteria that grow on the food stuck to teeth. Usually, sticky foods cause the accumulation of bacteria, especially on the occlusal surfaces of teeth and interdental areas. The number of times the food is consumed, such as in between eating habits and regular snacking, are the main reasons for dental cavities. Stages Of Dental Cavities A dental cavity doesn’t form overnight. It is a prolonged process that usually starts as a white chalky stage and gradually progresses to a brown pitting stage. Demineralization of teeth is caused due to bacterial enzymes, which appear as the white chalky stage, which is reversible. Do All Cavities Require Filling? The answer is NO. When dental caries are identified at the white chalky stage, they can be remineralized by using: ● Tooth mousse (Casein phosphopeptide–amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP–ACP) ● Topical fluoride application- (sodium fluoride, calcium fluoride, amorphous calcium phosphate, amine fluorides) ● Using & fluoridated toothpastes ● Fluoride lozenges Your dentist suggests to you the appropriate method of topical fluoride application. DO NOT SELF MEDICATE as we deal with higher concentrations of fluoride, and improper ingestion might lead to fluoride poisoning. Dental sealants are used in the very early stages of dental caries, where deep occlusal grooves are filled with materials like flowable composites. This prevents food accumulation in deep occlusal grooves, preventing dental caries. Does Filling A Cavity Hurt? In most cases, the cavity filling doesn’t hurt, but the sound of the drill used by your dentist might leave you with slight discomfort. Nevertheless, when the cavity is deep, you might end up in slight pain, as we go deeper during drilling, your dentist might get closer to underlying nerves leading to pain. Your dentist usually performs such cavity preparation under local anesthesia. If the cavity is very deep, involving underlying blood vessels and nerves, your dentist suggests a root canal treatment, followed by a crown or cap on the tooth. This is a slightly painful procedure, and one will be kept on antibiotics and painkillers for 3-5 days. What Is The Safest Dental Filling? A wide number of dental filling materials have evolved over a period of time. A few of the dental filling materials used over time are as follows: ● Gold ● Amalgam ● GIC ● Composite resins The trend of today is tooth-colored restorations, known as composite fillings. They have gained huge popularity due to their highly esthetic properties, durability, and ability to bear the occlusal forces when used to restore posterior teeth. How Long Should Fillings Last? The lifetime of a filling depends on various factors like tooth cavity preparation, the amount of tooth structure removed due to caries, and the prognosis of the tooth. It is very difficult to assess the lifetime of a dental filling. It is always advisable to get your dental fillings checked by your dentist every so often to assess if they need a replacement. Although a tooth filling gives a person a restored tooth, it may not always be necessary. It can be expensive and scary to do because it requires drilling of the tooth. Knowing what other treatments are available for cavities can help a person who is concerned about dental fillings.