Attempting to disguise a cavity brings you dangerously close to the realm of DIY dentistry. So, can you fill a cavity without visiting the dentist? Yes. Should you? No. What are some of the potential risks of attempting to fill a cavity?
Filling a Cavity
When your dentist applies a filling to a cavity, it's not as though they're simply filling in a hole. A small amount of the surrounding tooth is removed, and this is to create the necessary space for the restoration material (the filling), along with removing any surrounding decay which can cause the filling to fail and can allow the tooth to continue its deterioration. Any form of DIY dentistry doesn't permit the required level of precision and can jeopardise what is generally a straightforward task for your dentist. But what are some of the ways in which people have attempted to fill a cavity, and why are they so unwise?
Teeth Paint
Teeth paint is not the same as a teeth whitener. It's painted directly onto the tooth and adheres to its surface without permanently altering the colour of the underlying tooth. Its use is often cosmetic, which is why you might have seen it sold in fancy dress shops. It's basically tooth makeup, and it should only be applied to intact, healthy teeth, if at all. Attempting to paint over a cavity can result in the paint penetrating your tooth and even making its way into your tooth's pulp chamber (which hosts the nerve inside the tooth). The result will be ineffective in the aesthetic sense, and you risk damaging your tooth, which can cause a considerable amount of discomfort and will require more intervention than a mere filling.
Candle Wax
Yes, you read that right. Some people have suggested that you can use candle wax to temporarily fill a cavity. It's highly unlikely that you will be able to apply melted candle wax with the necessary exactness to fill the cavity, and even if you managed to do so, the wax can very easily be dislodged by eating, drinking, and even speaking. As with teeth paint, you run the risk of the material making its way into the tooth's pulp chamber.
DIY Restoration Material
You can buy temporary tooth filling materials online, and yet, you should not. The material is similar and, depending on your purchase, comparable to what a dentist would use. But are you a dentist? Though you might diligently and accurately apply the correct amount of material to the correct location on your tooth, you are not able to do the necessary surface preparation. Once the material dries, it sometimes cannot be removed without taking a significant chunk of your tooth with it. This is particularly true if the surrounding tooth has already begun to decay. Again, what might have been a simple filling might end up requiring a dental crown or a more significant form of restoration.
In short, just remember how simple it is for a dentist to perform a filling. Your cavity can be filled quickly and easily, but without jeopardising your tooth.
To learn more, contact a dentist.
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