You may be wondering what tooth decay and groundhogs have in common. The answer lies in the information that can be provided by a simple shadow.
How Tooth Decay Develops?
According to folklore, each year on February 2nd, a groundhog emerges from its burrow to let the world know whether spring will be arriving early or there will be six more weeks of winter. If the groundhog sees his shadow when he emerges, it is a sign that winter will last for six more weeks. Shadows can provide insight into a number of “unseen” occurrences, and whether you believe in the folklore of Groundhog’s Day or not, when it comes to your teeth, you should heed the warning of any shadows that appear on or between your teeth when you visit the dentist because they may indicate that you need a dental filling.
Areas of tooth decay can appear as shadows when they are transilluminated, a process in which a light is shone on the teeth from behind. Shadows or dark spots can also sometimes be seen just by a routine visual exam by a trained dentist or dental hygienist and are a sign that decay has occurred. The most common location to be able to view shadowy areas of decay without the use of x-rays is between teeth. X-rays can confirm diagnosis and can also show shadowy areas where tooth decay is apparent even before they are noticeable to the naked eye or through the use of transillumination.
If your dentist or hygienist notices a shadowy area, the first thing that he or she is likely to do is to probe the area with a sharp instrument. Decayed tooth material will yield under the probe and will confirm the diagnosis of a dental cavity. If necessary, x-rays will also be taken so that the dentist can view the extent of the decay.Once tooth decay is confirmed, the best course of action is to have the dentist fill the cavity as soon as possible. In many cases, this can be done in the same office visit in which the shadow uncovers the decay, although some dentists may require that you schedule a separate appointment for the filling if you are only scheduled for a routine dental hygiene appointment with the hygienist.
When filling a cavity, the dentist will first remove the decayed portion of the tooth, ensuring that any decay does not spread further throughout the tooth. The removal of this decay is what forms a pocket, or cavity, and gives the technique its commonly-used name. The cavity in the tooth must then be filled with a material that takes the place of the tooth material that was removed, although the type of filling material used can vary.
One of the most common types of filling materials used today is a composite resin tooth-colored dental filling. This material is not only strong and durable, but since the material is matched to the natural tooth color, it is virtually undetectable, making it the most aesthetically-pleasing option available. Another common material is silver amalgam, which for many years was by far the most popular dental filling option, although due to negative aesthetics and the fact that amalgam contains trace amounts of mercury, many patients no longer select amalgam and some dentists do not even offer it as an option any more.
This year, let’s hope that the groundhog is the only one that sees a shadow. But, if it turns out that your dentist also sees a shadow when looking at your teeth, don’t act like a groundhog and burrow back in your hole. Instead, have any tooth decay treated right away to avoid further problems.
For more information about tooth decay and dental fillings, contact Park Dental Care in Queens at 718-274-1515.
