If it has been a while since you scheduled an appointment for cleaning and examining your teeth, consider a dental visit to help prevent and treat tooth decay. Routine cleanings assist your daily brushing and flossing habits by removing plaque and tartar deposits that are impossible to treat at home. When left alone, these deposits cause cavities that grow in scope and threaten the health of your teeth. The hole in your enamel exposes the inside of your tooth to oral bacteria that can cause painful infections. Remember that the earlier we detect a cavity, the more conservative treatment we can provide to repair your tooth. Your Ankeny, IA dentist can remove decaying material, place a restoration, and then help counsel on preventing further tooth decay.
Restorations That Support Your Tooth
When plaque and tartar accumulate on the surface of your teeth, bacteria within produce acids that wear away at your enamel and cause tiny holes to form. Over time, the damage grows in size and threatens the inner layers of your tooth. This means you eventually risk losing the entire tooth or experiencing an infection. To stop the cavity’s expansion, your dentist can remove plaque deposits and the damaged material within your tooth. As this process permanently alters its structure, we must place a restoration to seal your tooth and return its natural look.
Dental Fillings
Your dentist will determine the appropriate restoration based on the shape and size of your cavity. The placement of a dental filling allows you to maintain your smile’s natural appearance with tooth-colored finely ground material. The filling is placed directly into the hole left after cavity removal to protect your tooth from future infection. Modern materials allow your filling to settle quickly and most patients can enjoy resuming eating and drinking within hours.
Dental Crowns
For cavities that significantly damage the structure of your tooth, a dental crown can provide support beyond that of a regular filling. Crowns surround the entire top portion of a tooth to receive the full pressure of your bite and protect a weakened structure. Like fillings, a crown’s shade can match your tooth to give a natural appearance. This treatment can also address teeth that crack or break due to decay.
Speak With Your Ankeny, IA Dentist About Treating And Preventing Tooth Decay
By attending regular dental checkups, we can help you prevent tooth decay or stop its progression. When we detect cavities early in their formation, we can treat them with dental fillings before they expand. If you would like to find out more about this service or have questions about other oral health issues, please call your Ankeny, IA dentist’s office at (515) 965-0230 to schedule a visit.
