If you have a cavity, you should seek treatment quickly to avoid the risk of an infected or abscessed tooth. While in the past, this meant you would be receiving a metal filling, your Newhall, CA, dentist has something more esthetically-pleasing in mind. Find out how we repair smiles and treat cavities with lifelike composite resin fillings.
The Warning Signs of a Cavity
When you visit our office twice a year for a checkup, we can monitor your oral health and identify signs of trouble early. For example, we may find a developing decay in the initial stages, treating it before you develop discomfort. Otherwise, the earliest warning signs of a cavity may be tooth sensitivity and toothaches, which means the decay is advanced and the risk of an infection is higher. When you experience pain, please let us know right away, so we can treat the issue before you require a root canal and crown.
The Placement of a Dental Filling
To place a filling, we need to remove the decay from your tooth and thoroughly clean it. Once we do this, we prepare the restoration material. Instead of metal, we use composite resin, a blend of glass-like and acrylic compounds that we can shade to match the color of your tooth. We then place the material in several layers and cure it with a light, sculpting your tooth as the material hardens. The last step is to polish your tooth for a more lifelike appearance. The entire procedure takes one visit to complete and halts the progression of decay, safeguarding your smile against infections or abscesses.
Keeping Smiles Cavity-Free
Once we place your new restoration, we will discuss a few options to reduce the risk of future cavities. For example, you should make time every day to brush your teeth twice, when you wake up and again before bed, using a toothpaste that contain fluoride. You also need to floss between your teeth every night as well, and try to cut back on the sugary foods and drinks that could feed cavity-causing bacteria and promote plaque buildup on your teeth. A visit every six months so we can examine your smile and clean the teeth, removing all plaque and tartar, is also beneficial. If you have any questions about avoiding cavities, or if you have an aching tooth in need of attention, then please contact our team today. Don’t risk tooth decay becoming an infection, talk to us about a single visit solution with dental fillings.
Do You Have a Toothache?
Sensitive or aching teeth could indicate the potential presence of a cavity. To learn more about how we treat tooth decay, then please schedule a consultation by calling Newhall Dental Arts in Newhall, CA, today at (661) 259-7760.