Getting Up to Speed on Cavity Fillings

Everyone knows what a dental filling is. That’s not in contention, of course. But what often happens with something that is common and known about but not fully understood has befallen fillings. No one seems to understand what they’re made of and how they work.

I’m sure most would agree or understand that a filling is a type of real metal, and I’m sure that’s only the case because of the (usually) metallic luster a filling gives off. Whether you had fillings put in when you were younger or knew of someone that did, everyone understands the basic idea of having your teeth filled. It’s essentially a cavity that has been removed by the dentist, and the hole left in your tooth is drilled out a little more and filled by metal to keep your tooth strong and able to handle daily chewing and talking.

So what are all the types of filling? Let’s look at the two basic types.

Composite resin.

This is my choice, if only because I’ve always had them and they don’t really make themselves known. Considering it’s tooth colored, most people prefer to opt for a solution like this simply to hide any imperfections they may have. And I get that. But composite resin is extremely pliable, which allows the dentist to work it into your cavity that needs filled. Just as well, it hardens once in the tooth and is extremely sturdy.

Silver amalgam.

On the other hand of the spectrum, amalgam is made out of actual metals which are then heated up, liquified, and placed in your cavity to cool and harden as well. Silver, tin, copper, mercury, and zinc are usually the different metals in amalgam fillings. And guess what? It’s been around for a century and a half. If amalgam has made it this far but started that long ago, you know something is up with the material. This type may not be as durable as gold (another filling option), but it holds up better and longer than composite fillings over awhile.

Just make sure you actually get your cavities filled and don’t spend too much time weighing the two. It’s as simple as do you want one material to last longer or the other to look better? Choose based on your preferences and you’re set. Cavities are ever prevalent, but the more the general public knows about them and the types of fillings out there, the more people may actually prevent their teeth from ever getting to that point.

Watch Out for Your Kids with Hard Candy

This time of year is an absolute dream come true for kids everywhere. Between the gobs of great food they’ll be eating, the presents that are inevitable, and the various candies they’ll be snacking on, they may feel like they’re on cloud 9 and never want to go back to January through September.

But one thing to keep an eye on this time of year are all the hard candies they’ll have access to. Whether it’s leftover jawbreakers or Jolly Ranchers from Halloween or even candy canes closer to the winter holidays, hard candy poses unique risks to children that you wouldn’t have to consider with other candies.

We see candy canes in particular as a welcome sight around this time of year since they signal the onset of the holiday season. Many would agree that peppermint is a taste reminiscent of the holidays, and it’s not uncommon at all to see some hanging on decorative trees in a friend’s home or even out in public. But no matter how classic the candy has become during the holidays, it’s important to understand and be aware of the risk these candies have.

Hard candy can puncture skin.

This is obviously something that doesn’t happen often, but hard candy can definitely be dangerous if it’s been sucked on and whittled down to a thin point. This happens in candy canes especially, and since kids like to run around, they’re likely to bump into something or trip and hurt themselves on the candy cane. Be extra vigilant these holidays when they’re eating candy canes in particular.

Teeth can break or chip eating hard candy.

This is something that can happen with any hardened sugar candy. If your child is impatient when eating and wants to get to the core flavor, they may try biting down on the treat. This is definitely a recipe for disaster since they’re much more likely to chip or break a tooth than an adult with stronger teeth would be.

Even though hard candies pose these unique risks, they can and should still be eaten and enjoyed around this time of year. You just want to make sure that your child isn’t eating this type of candy improperly or hurting themselves unintentionally. Remind them that patience is a good thing and that their candy will last longer than usual if they take it slow when eating. They may fuss at first, but it’s worth teaching them while they’re young so that they know not to mess around with hard candy.