Normally it all starts with a severe tooth ache.. staring in the mirror for hours at the blackened tooth, trying to remove the food lodged in it..followed by lots of sleepless nights.. which ultimately leads to a forced visit to the dentist! The dentist examines the tooth.. while you shake in the chair.. fearing what he is going to do next with his weapon .. read “the drilling machine!”.. Finally when the dentist has finished his job and gives you the permission to go home.. phew!!  you are at peace! You are relieved its all over and now you don’t need to worry about the tooth.. That is where you go wrong!   

You need to be careful and take utmost care of the restored tooth too.. Getting the carious tooth or in common language.. the cavity filled or restored, does not permanently solve your problem. Especially if you are not going to take care of it. The restorative dental materials used, cannot match the superior strength of natural enamel and dentin.. Hence the restored tooth needs to be given extra attention and oral hygiene must be maintained really well..

There is always a possibility of secondary caries, i.e. decay to develop around the already restored tooth due to poor oral hygiene maintained by the patient. That is why a dentist always advises you to take proper care of the restored tooth. It is also important to go for at least a yearly check up to keep track of the progress of such teeth to help detect the problem in its early stages and avoid the painful complications!

There are various dental aids available in the market, that can help you take care of your restored teeth. Apart from cleaning such teeth with a regular tooth brush, it is also necessary for you to floss the area around it really well. Inter dental brushes are also easily available in the market. In case if part of the restoration cracks, chips, or breaks off.. don’t hesitate to visit your dentist. Many people avoid going to the dentist assuming that since its only a small part that has chipped off, they need not bother. Wrong again! You need to take care of it as soon as possible.. because this forms a path for new cavities to develop. Also if there are any sharp edges left behind by the chipped off restoration, it can irritate the surrounding structures and cause lot more problems and not to forget, a lot more pain. Hence one needs to visit a dentist as soon as any such complications arise!

My advice to everyone would be, dont live with the myth that “once restored need not be looked at ever again!” 

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