Tooth decay is one of the most frequent dental problems that people experience, and for some people, it can occur more than once in their lifetimes. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always take much for decay to develop in a tooth, and when left unattended, it can quickly become worse. The good news, though, is that you have several different options for effectively restoring a decaying tooth, each designed to address your tooth’s specific state of decay. At our Newhall, CA, dental office, that includes preventive efforts to help you avoid tooth decay, as well as highly customizable restorative options for fixing a tooth that’s already decaying.
Preventable measures to avoid it
Despite the fact that tooth decay affects so many people, it’s also one of the more easily preventable dental conditions. It’s caused by an excessive buildup of oral bacteria and the weakening of your protective tooth enamel when these bacteria convert nutrients into acids. Once bacterial acids weaken the enamel, the bacteria can infect the tooth. Therefore, preventing tooth decay requires preventing bacteria buildup and the weakening of your tooth enamel. In addition to brushing and flossing your teeth every day, this also means attending a professional checkup and cleaning at our dental office at least once every six months.
Filling a minor to moderate cavity
During a checkup and cleaning appointment, we’ll also carefully check your teeth for signs that tooth decay is already a threat, or that a cavity (the result of decay) has already developed. If one has, then you may require a custom tooth filling, which involves carefully removing the bacteria and infected tooth structure from the cavity. Then, we can fill the cavity with a tooth-colored filling made from biocompatible composite resin. The filling will be custom-tinted to match your tooth’s healthy, natural color, to blend in with your tooth as well as restore its health and integrity.
Rooting out invasive tooth decay
When you don’t address a cavity soon enough, or if a tooth becomes damaged and its inner pulp chamber is exposed, you may experience deeper, internal tooth decay. When the infection reaches the nerves and blood vessels in the pulp, it can become too invasive for a custom filling to effectively address it. Instead, we can perform comfortable root canal treatment to remove the infected tissues and seal the pulp and root canal. Then, we can restore the main structure of the tooth to prevent decay from returning and restore the tooth’s structural integrity.
The best way to treat your tooth decay
Tooth decay is progressive, which means addressing yours will require direct, highly customized treatment. For more information, schedule a consultation by calling Newhall Dental Arts in Newhall, CA, today at (661) 259-7760.