Dental Fillings in Spirit Lake, Iowa
Cavities can have multiple causes. Diet, genetics, dry mouth, and oral hygiene are among the factors that contribute to decay. Cavities are common, and most patients will have at least one in their lifetime.
A filling restores a tooth after a cavity or decay is removed. Cavities are caused by bacteria damaging tooth enamel. This decay has to be removed in order to restore the tooth. Fillings can be made of composite material, which is tooth-colored, or amalgam, which is silver. The filling material used depends on anatomy and the extent of decay. If decay is not treated promptly, it can cause more severe problems that require more extensive treatment than a filling, such as a root canal or even extraction if the tooth is no longer restorable.