Toothache : Conventional Treatment
CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT
Toothache or tooth pain is caused when the nerve root of a tooth is irritated. When decay is found, treatment involves two steps: removal of the decay and restoration (filling) of the cleaned spot to seal out further decay and reconstruct the surface of the tooth.
Decay removal has traditionally been done by drilling, though some dentists today use lasers for this purpose. Because laser treatment doesn’t cause the pressure and vibration of a drill, this is reportedly the first truly painless method of removing decay. Another advantage is that the laser can make a smaller hole than a drill, so a smaller filling is required.
Many different materials can be used to fill teeth. Most commonly used in the United States are amalgams, which are silver-colored mixtures of metals that contain copper, tin, and zinc, among others, plus approximately 50 percent mercury. Because of the potential toxicity of these metals, especially mercury, there is growing concern about the safety of amalgam as a dental material Some European countries, in fact, have made the transition to mercury free dental fillings. As a result, a number of effective nonmetallic and less potentially toxic filling materials called composites have been developed.
Unfortunately, these are more expensive than amalgam fillings, and in order to use them, a dentist must spend a certain amount of time learning to handle them properly, something not all dentists are willing or able to do. If you need a filling, ask your dentist about the materials he or she uses. If you are concerned about metal fillings, you may wish to seek a dentist who shares your concern.
