fillings between teeth

[kevinf]

i will be going to the dentist for a cleaning this coming saturday. a few weeks ago when scratching my teeth, i could feel a sore"y" type of sensation on the teeth. the teeth next to it also seems to be discoloring where the two teeth meet. so basically the black is between two teeth. i just wanted to know how dentists fill fillings in between teeth and if these are common. if a small part of the teeth is turning dark does that mean it is a very severe cavity? the teeth itself does not hurt and it is very hard to see since it is blocked by the teeth next to it. will this be bad enough for a root canal?

 

[Zzzdentist]

It could be a stain, but it also could be a cavity. Only your dentist will be able to tell you for sure. It can be difficult to judge the size of a cavity in the back areas just by looking at it. In the front teeth it's usually not as difficult. It's usually a good sign that the teeth aren't hurting, but there can be other factors that will influence the final treatment that is needed. Just let your dentist take a boo and he/she will be able to give you the full breakdown.

 

[kevinf]

thanks but how do they fill fillings that are in between teeth. is it a much more complicated process? also what if they are near the gumline?

 

[Zzzdentist]

Dentists are trained in placing fillings where ever they are needed in the mouth so they do not find doing these a complicated process as it's done day in and day out. Preparing the tooth involves accessing the decayed area through whichever surface the dentist thinks is best. The cavity is cleaned out, and the preparation shaped to help retain the filling. Matrix bands are then used to help support the placement of the filling and then the filling is placed. There's a few more steps in there, but we won't go into the nitty gritty detail.

Gumline cavities can be dealt with by placing retraction cords into the gum sulcus, but sometimes they can be repaired without them. You'll have to trust that your dentist knows how to get it fixed as they should have the training to do so.

 

[kevinf]

thanks the dentist that i am going to go to used to be my orthodontist though when i had braces but orthodontists should have learned most of what a regular dentist knows right? sorry if this is a weird question

 

[brit]

Yes orthodontists are dental specialists, they have to qualify as dentists first.

 

[kevinf]

well i got back from the dentist and he said that those are just decalcifying. he told me to use a toothpaste called pro-namel that supposedly should be able to remineralize the teeth. is there any thing else i should do?

 

[Gordon]

Fluoride mouth rinses might be a good idea.

 

[Yourbigpalal83]

yep. sounds like good old decalcification to me. Im no dentist but with my former dental hypercondria...i could qualifie for one.

Between teeth, i strongly recomend flossing. You can brush till the cows come home, if you dont floss, your missing about half of your mouth.

If you have trouble flossing, i highly recomend the floss sticks/picks they sell at the store. I used to hate flossing with the old tape style floss, the sicks work wonders.

Having a filling betwen two molars myself, i can say that it wasnt so bad getting them done. Sure it makes flossing a bit more of a hassle in that area, but thats the price i pay for not brushing and flossing for so many years.

 

[kevinf]

yeah i have been flossing using the floss picks for a few years now. i guess i should just try the flouride mouthwash. are there any good brands to use? or does listerine have something like this.