Information on Fillings

A cavity is a hole in a tooth. The cavity is created by acid eating away at the tooth surface. Bacteria in our mouth use carbohydrates in our food to produce acids that attack our teeth. Left untreated, a cavity will continue to grow eventually causing extensive damage to the tooth, and potentially infecting the pulp (nerve and blood supply) inside the tooth. This can lead to a toothache or dental abscess. If the cavity is caught early, your dentist can treat it with a simple filling, typically in one appointment. We currently offer composite resin, resin modified glass ionomer or amalgam fillings. There are pros and cons to each type of filling and these differences will be discussed with you when choosing the material with which to restore your child’s teeth.