A small cavity left untreated becomes a root canal. A root canal left untreated becomes an extraction. At Dr. Liwo Dental Clinic in Ngeme, Limbe, we catch decay early and fill it cleanly so you keep your natural tooth for as long as possible. Same-day appointments available.
Tooth decay is the most common dental problem in the world and it is almost entirely preventable. But when it does happen, how quickly you act makes all the difference between a simple filling and a much more serious and expensive procedure.
Here is how it works. A cavity starts as a tiny hole in your enamel caused by bacteria eating away at the surface of your tooth. At this stage it causes little or no pain and is extremely easy to fix with a straightforward filling. Left alone it grows deeper into the tooth, reaches the sensitive inner layer called the dentine, and eventually gets to the nerve at the centre of the tooth. That is when the serious pain starts and when a simple filling is no longer enough.
At Dr. Liwo Dental Clinic we use tooth coloured composite fillings that match the natural shade of your teeth. Nobody will be able to tell you have a filling. The procedure is quick, virtually painless, and completed in a single visit.
If you have a tooth that is sensitive to sweet food, cold drinks, or pressure when you bite, that is your tooth telling you something is wrong. Come in before it gets worse.
Composite Fillings: These are tooth coloured fillings made from a resin material that blends naturally with your existing teeth. They are our most popular option because they look completely natural, bond directly to the tooth, and require less removal of healthy tooth structure than older filling types.
Amalgam Fillings: These are the traditional silver coloured fillings made from a durable metal alloy. They are extremely strong and long lasting, making them a good option for back teeth that take the most pressure during chewing. We discuss all options with you and recommend what suits your specific situation best.
The most common signs are tooth sensitivity to cold, hot, or sweet food and drinks, a visible hole or dark spot on a tooth, pain when you bite down, and a tooth that feels rough or jagged to your tongue. However many cavities in their early stages have no symptoms at all which is why regular checkups are so important. We often catch decay at routine appointments before patients have felt any pain at all. That is the best time to treat it.
No. We numb the area completely with local anaesthetic before we start so you will not feel any pain during the procedure. You may feel some pressure or vibration but nothing sharp or painful. Once the anaesthetic wears off after a few hours your tooth may feel slightly sensitive for a day or two but this passes quickly. Most patients are surprised by how easy and fast the whole process is.
Most fillings are completed in 30 to 60 minutes depending on the size and location of the cavity. You come in, we numb the area, remove the decay, clean the tooth, and place the filling all in one visit. You walk out the same day with the problem fixed.
Composite tooth coloured fillings typically last between five and ten years with proper care. Amalgam fillings can last even longer. The lifespan of your filling depends on where it is in your mouth, how well you maintain your oral hygiene, and whether you grind your teeth. We check your existing fillings at every routine appointment to catch any wear before it becomes a problem.
The decay will keep growing deeper into your tooth. What starts as a filling becomes a root canal once the decay reaches the nerve. A root canal that is not treated eventually leads to a dental abscess which is a painful infection that can spread beyond the tooth. At that point the tooth often cannot be saved and needs to be extracted. The cost and complexity of treatment grows significantly at every stage. A filling done today is always cheaper, faster, and easier than the alternative.
