When left untreated, cavities can cause substantial damage to the health of your enamel and make you vulnerable to additional complications such as a total loss of your tooth. If you ever feel uncomfortable about seeking treatment for tooth decay, know that meeting with your dentist regularly can help you to detect cavity formation early. This can prevent you from experiencing painful future difficulties and allow us to provide a treatment to stop the progression of current decay. At your Ankeny, IA dentist’s office, we can place a dental filling that removes decayed tissue and returns the appearance of healthy enamel. Our approach considers the function of your bite and esthetic needs to provide a conservative solution for your dental damage. Remember that treating decay early first requires detecting its presence, so make sure not to skip any regular visits to our office!
An Effective Treatment For Tooth Decay
Tooth decay occurs when a sticky film of food debris and bacteria called plaque builds up on the surface of your teeth. As bacteria feed on the remnants of your meals, they emit acid that threatens the health of your enamel and can eventually create tiny holes called cavities. This is why it is so important to practice proper oral hygiene habits. By attentively brushing and flossing your teeth each day, you can prevent ongoing plaque formation. Avoiding foods that are high in sugar can also help prevent rapid bacterial growth, but unfortunately cavities can still take hold in anyone’s mouth. Therefore you must stay on top of attending regular checkups and cleanings with your dentist to detect tooth decay before it becomes more severe and leads to extensive damage. We can evaluate the size of your cavity and provide an appropriate restoration to protect your vulnerable tooth.
When a dental filling is suitable, we will remove decayed material from your tooth and fill the remaining hole all in a single visit. Dental fillings allow us to match the color of your tooth to provide cosmetic enhancement while protecting the structure from ongoing deterioration. When a dental filling is not effective to repair the extent of your damage, we can provide a more extensive solution.
Dental Crowns Provide Durable Coverage
For decay that significantly weakens your tooth, we can offer the placement of a dental crown. This treatment provides sturdy support by covering the tooth entirely above your gumline and absorbing the pressures of daily chewing. This solution is appropriate when your tooth is compromised beyond the scope of treatment with a dental filling.
Speak With Your Ankeny, IA Dentist About Treating Tooth Decay With A Dental Filling
Regularly attending dental visits can help detect the presence of tooth decay and dental fillings allow us to stop the progression of cavity growth before they become worse. If you would like to find out more about this service or have questions about other oral health issues, please call our Ankeny, IA dentist’s office at (515) 965-0230 to schedule a visit.
