Are cavities too big for fillings?

This blogpost will answer the question Are cavities too big for fillings? And will include the following topics:Why Your Teeth Get Cavities

Do I Need a Tooth Filling or Crown?

When Would I Need a Crown? When Would I Need a Filling?

Factors that determine the choice of fillings or crowns

Cavities Most Often Can Be Repaired by Dental Fillings

Dental Crowns Protect Teeth that Have Suffered Severe Damage

Dental Crowns Have a Variety of Applications for Oral Health

3 Big Tips For Fighting Cavities

Are tooth fillings necessary?

Are cavities too big for fillings?

No, not all cavities are too big for fillings. The cavity’s treatment will be determined by its stage. Tooth decay, which produces cavities, is a persistent problem that gets worse the longer it goes untreated. Patients with more serious cavities, on the other hand, would require more complex restorative therapy to fix their teeth. While dental fillings are usually quite effective at treating mild to moderate cavities, if your cavity is too large for a filling, your dentist will have to recommend another treatment choice.

Why Your Teeth Get Cavities

Decay cursing bacteria can be found in everyone’s mouth. They ingest small pieces of food and drink that get stuck between your teeth to survive. When you eat a banana, little bits of banana (too small to see) can become lodged in your teeth. The bacteria can survive on almost any food, but sugar aids in their growth the most.

These bacteria, unfortunately, secrete an acid. When bacteria reside on your teeth, acid eats away at your enamel, causing cavities. Cavities are also known as tooth decay because the acid causes the enamel of your teeth to decay.

There are no nerves in the enamel. That means cavities can form and continue to expand without you even noticing it. That’s why it’s necessary to schedule regular dental checkups with your dentists. Cavities can only be detected with a trained eye and digital X-rays while they are still tiny enough.

Do I Need a Tooth Filling or Crown?

Ignoring a toothache is never a wise idea. If you’ve been experiencing continuous toothache, you should contact your dentist as soon as possible.

Your dentist may propose a cavity filling or a dental crown depending on the severity of tooth decay or damage. Every patient is unique. As a result, you will only be recommended treatments that will help your dental health in the long run.

How Do They Differ?

Dental Crown

Would treat severe tooth damage

Will covers and strengthen the tooth

Always require a dental impression

Composite Resin Filling

Would treats minor tooth damage

Will fill in the tooth

No need of a dental impression

When Would I Need a Crown?

Dental crowns are often used in cases where a tooth has been significantly damaged. This might be due to a large cavity or dental trauma. Crowns could also be used to conceal a dental implant or to secure a dental bridge..

Situations that call for a dental crown include:

To provide protection for a weak tooth to prevent decay or further breakage.

A severely damaged or broken tooth that requires restoration.

Sometimes coverage and support is needed for a tooth with a large filling.

To hold a dental bridge in its place.

To cover irregularly shaped or severely discolored teeth.

To cover a dental implant.

When Would I Need a Filling?

Fillings are most commonly used to cure small to moderate cavities, although they can also be utilised for other purposes. Fillings, for example, can be used to restore cracked or fractured teeth.

Fillings might also benefit if your teeth have worn down due to severe grinding or nail-biting. The dentist will check every tooth surface with a mirror to see if fillings are required.

Factors that determine the choice of fillings or crowns

To determine which option (dental fillings or crown) would be more effective, a dentist will consider the following factors:

Size of the cavity

One of the factors that determines the decision between a dental filling and a dental crown is the size of the cavity. When tooth decay is left untreated for an extended period of time, it grows larger and deeper. If the cavity is discovered early enough, a filling will work. But if the decay has spread to a large section of the tooth, the dentist may recommend a dental crown.

Tooth condition

A crown may be necessary if a tooth has already been filled too many times. The reason for this is that when more fillings replace the natural structure of the tooth, it grows weaker. Hence, it will not be able to resist the pressure of biting and chewing for long and as a result the tooth may fracture or shatter altogether. A tooth with multiple big fillings or several little fillings is also susceptible to pulpitis, which is a bacterial infection of the root. The tooth will be protected from infection by the crown.

Broken or cracked teeth

A crown is designed to mimic the appearance of a natural tooth, making it ideal for restoring chipped, cracked, or damaged teeth. The crown will shield the tooth from future damage that might lead to infection. Regardless of the degree of the damage, using a dental filling to heal a broken tooth is unfeasible.

Root canal

If the tooth’s inner post part is infected, the dentist will have to clean it out. But the tooth would become hollow and weak as a result of this infection. The only method to save the tooth from extraction is to perform a root canal and cover it with a dental crown.

Cavities Most Often Can Be Repaired by Dental Fillings

The most basic type of dental repair is dental fillings. Your dentist can fill up the hole created by bacterial infection using a metal alloy, porcelain, or dental resin . These materials are long-lasting and can help to stabilise a broken tooth. Naturally, if your tooth has a large hole in it, it will no longer be as structurally sound as it once was. Dental fillings are frequently sufficient for a cavity treatment, however they may not be effective in situations of serious infection. If bacteria has caused substantial damage to your teeth, you may require a dental crown.

Dental Crowns Protect Teeth that Have Suffered Severe Damage

If a dental filling isn’t enough to restore your tooth’s structural integrity, you may need a dental crown. Dental crowns are composed of a variety of materials to match the colour and shape of your natural tooth. They sit exactly on your tooth and protect it from bacterial infection and physical injury. To guarantee that your crown is custom-fit for your tooth, your dentist takes measurements of your teeth. Your crown will function as a barrier to protect your fragile tooth from additional damage. This is the best option for teeth that have been damaged beyond repair by a filling.

Dental Crowns Have a Variety of Applications for Oral Health

Dental crowns aren’t simply for teeth that have been severely decayed. Dental crowns can be used to improve your dental health in a variety of ways. Crowns are also placed on teeth that require root canal treatment, in order to protect a tooth that has lost structural integrity. When constructing a dental bridge, crowns are also used on the abutment teeth. Replacement teeth are held in place by crowns. Dental implants are also fitted with crowns. Implants are titanium posts that serve as a replacement for a lost tooth. To complete the functional and cosmetic repair, the crown is placed above the post.

3 Big Tips For Fighting Cavities

The best defense against cavities is to follow these three big tips:

Visit your dentist regularly: 

Only dental professionals have the training and technology can help you identify the problems.

Brush and floss your teeth:

These dental hygiene practices can help you get rid of the food that winds up feeding harmful bacteria, so they will lower your risk of cavities.

Limit sugary foods:

Since those harmful bacteria feed on sugar, you can control their growth by controlling how much sugar you eat.

Are tooth fillings necessary?

Not all tooth decay is equal, according to The Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA). If the decay is identified early enough, your dentist may be able to use a few less invasive techniques to prevent a filling. Where the enamel is weakening, tooth decay might appear brown or white at first. Topical fluoride treatments and sealants may be your best defence against cavities and the need for a filling.

Fluoride varnish:

As the fluoride is absorbed by the enamel, this liquid is sprayed onto the teeth and immediately hardens into a thin film.

Fluoride gel:

A gel solution is inserted in your mouth in a specially prepared tray. It is left in your mouth for a period of time to allow the enamel to absorb the fluoride.

High-fluoride toothpaste:

Hopefully, you’re already using a fluoride-containing toothpaste, however a certain toothpaste with a greater fluoride content is available only with a prescription which is used when decay exposes the root. Regular use of this type of toothpaste to prevent additional decay..

Dental sealants:

Because they contain deep pits and grooves that hold plaque and food particles, the backs of your teeth are decay targets. Dental sealants produce a smooth surface over the back teeth, providing additional protection. Dental sealants should be used on teeth that are healthy and free of decay, but they can also be put over regions of early decay to avoid further harm. Your dentist will keep an eye on this tooth to make sure the sealant is working properly. The simple and painless procedure is an excellent approach to provide extra protection to children against cavities.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Can you get a filling on a large cavity?

No, you may not be able to get a filling on a large cavity.

When a tooth is severely damaged, it’s structural integrity is lost, and to restore it a filling is not sufficient. In such scenarios, your dentist may suggest you get a crown or bridge.

What happens if a cavity gets too big?

If a cavity gets too big, you may need a dental crown. A dental crown would restore the tooth’s lost function and shape. It will also protect the tooth from further damage.

Can a badly decayed tooth be filled?

A decayed tooth can be filled,but it depends on a number of factors such as cavity size, tooth condition, whether the tooth is fractured or broken etc. After proper examination, a professional dentist would decide if a filling is possible or not.

At what point can a cavity not be fixed?

Once the cavity has progressed to the pulp, it cannot be saved by a filling. You may need to undergo a root canal treatment or an extraction, depending on the severity.

Can a dentist remove rotten teeth?

Yes, a dentist can remove rotten teeth. When the cavity has become too big and the decay has progressed deeper into the tooth, removing the tooth is the only option.

After removal your dentist may suggest you to go for an implant with a dental crown or a bridge.

Other FAQs about Teeth Cavities that you may be interested in.

Are cavities normal in adults?

How long does it take to fill a cavity?

Why am I getting cavities all of a sudden?