Do you visit the dentist’s office regularly for cleanings and examinations? If it has been more than six months since your last visit, you should make an appointment to inspect your teeth for signs of tooth decay. When not removed, food and oral bacteria form plaques that can wear away at the surface of your teeth. Eventually, this wear and tear causes tiny holes to form in your enamel. The break in your protective barrier leaves you susceptible to infection of the tooth’s pulp.
To prevent decay from progressing, practice rigorous daily oral hygiene habits and visit your dentist regularly to detect any existing damage. At your Ankeny, IA dental office, we can help you restore your tooth after detecting a cavity. Remember that early detection of decay often leads to more conservative treatment, so do not skip your dental appointments!
Placing Restorations After Removing Tooth Decay
As plaque forms on the surface of your teeth, bacteria feed on the remnants of your meals and produce acidic byproducts that erode your enamel. This damage creates cavities that grow in size when not treated. They can become so great that your tooth cracks, becomes infected, or even requires an extraction. Fortunately, your dentist can prevent the growth by removing decaying tissues. As this process alters the structure of your tooth, we must place a permanent restoration to support its strength and form.
Dental Fillings
The most conservative restoration for treating a cavity is the placement of a dental filling. The use of finely ground acrylics allows us to match your filling’s color to your natural tooth. This provides desirable esthetic results while returning the shape of your full tooth. At future dental appointments, we will examine the status of your restoration’s continued place in your tooth. Following proper oral hygiene should help it stay in place for years.
Dental Crowns
For cavities that cause significant damage, a dental crown offers support beyond that of a standard filling. By covering your tooth completely above your gums, a crown can recreate the entire shape of a healthy tooth. This restoration offers additional structural support when handling the pressure of your bite. If your tooth cracks or requires a root canal, a crown will be recommended over a dental filling.
Talk To Your Ankeny, IA Dentist About Treating And Preventing Tooth Decay
Visiting your dentist on a semiannual basis helps prevent and treat tooth decay before it progresses significantly. Dental fillings and crowns can restore the shape and function of your tooth after removing cavities. 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.
